There are two railway bridges, and it could be the bridge furthest away from your flat David?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
Russell Road to shut(?)
(214 posts)-
Posted 9 years ago #
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So there are.
I shall investigate further tonight, if somebody doesn't beat me to it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
The plot thickens! Earlier I had a look, took a photo and called network rail. Apparently they have no record of a road closure associated with these works.
The advice letter to nearby residents said that the works -- which are to strengthen the bridge and install crash protection -- would produce some noise, heavy plant movement and so on. No road closure.
On the advice of the helpful chap to whom I spoke I've emailed their customer relations team with the photo. I will let you know of their response.
The reference for the affected Russell Road bridge in railway speak is apparently "ECN2 1 Mile 1134 Yards"
Posted 9 years ago # -
Does 'crash protection' entail massive steel barriers that will encroach on the shared use pavement?
Posted 9 years ago # -
ECN2 stands for 2nd bridge on the Edinburgh to CamperdowN Junction (Dundee) i.e. the Edinburgh to Fife line, which is the set of tracks in the middle of the bridge (those to the north are the access to Haymarket Depot, those to the South is the Edinburgh to Glasgow line.
Posted 9 years ago # -
It would be pointless to put barriers against the middle bridge of the 3 only... I've just been onto google maps to have a look and the photos are of when the tram bridge was under construction.
I was wondering if it was the other bridge but I think that's Muriston Crescent rather than Russell Road.
Posted 9 years ago # -
There are 2 different works: Murieston Crescent (which will be closed from 10th to 15th January) and the Russell Road bridge works (6 months from 19th January)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I can confirm that there are big signs about Russell Road being closed for 6 months.
Who would be the person to email to point out that they managed to keep it open for cyclists and pedestrians while they built a new bridge, so they better keep it open while they work on an existing one?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Fimm - try your councillors first? They should know who to contact.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Just got a reply from network rail. Good news:
"""
Dear Mr NutterThank you for your email.
I can confirm that the road will be closed, but pedestrian and cycle access will be maintained throughout the duration of the works.
I hope this is helpful.
Should you wish to report a new enquiry please call the Network Rail National Helpline on 08457 11 41 41.
Regards
David O'Neill
Community Relations Executive, Scotland
Network Rail
"""Posted 9 years ago # -
Ah, good. :-)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Just need to persuade CEC not to reopen to motors!...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Typing as someone who cycles up and down Russel Rd. daily but also a Murieston resident this closure is nothing but a pain because a) All council refuse vehicles leaving the depot at 7am on Russell road are now directed through Murieston Cres., rather than heading directly to Roseburn b) My wife now has to drive through Gorgie to turn down Ballgreen road to get to Corstorphine road to double back to Roseburn on her drive to work. This was the situation for 12 months during tram works, I'm not relishing the thought of it again. But as long as you guys are happy....
Posted 9 years ago # -
Harsh, but...
"my wife now has to drive..."
... does she?Posted 9 years ago # -
@Gresham it's a double-edged sword. When Russell Road was shut previously, it made the Murieston end a far more hospitable place to cycle and because the cut-through was closed it ended the rush-hour snarl ups at either end of people cutting between Roseburn and Gorgie Roads (which at the Murieston end are plain 'orrible given how narrow the road is, with parking on both sides). I'd wager it was possibly also a nicer place to live, given the above.
If I were resident round your way and was doing all my driving on the "other" side of the closure (i.e. like your wife's commute via Roseburn) and it is proving to be an inconvenience I would be sorely tempted to park the car on the "other" side and walk the 5 minutes to it from home in the morning / back in the evening to avoid the run-around the other roads. The diversion route via Haymarket is 1/2 mile shorter than via Balgreen but assume traffic is worse?
I'd also be petitioning the council to send the bin motors up McLeod Street instead of the residential streets at Murieston given at that time the school won't be open.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yes Fimm, yes she does, thanks for checking.
@K -It did make the area quieter generally, it's true, but being woken by flatbed trucks/ bin lorries speeding over speedbumps pretty much every morning was no fun. I think traffic will be worse through Haymarket esp. now with added trams, although I like your "leave the car on the other side" concept.
Posted 9 years ago # -
"being woken by flatbed trucks/ bin lorries speeding over speedbumps"
Sounds bad.
"I'd also be petitioning the council to send the bin motors up McLeod Street instead of the residential streets at Murieston given at that time the school won't be open."
Sounds like a good idea.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I may well contact the council, see if they will consider rerouting.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Looks like work is now to be delayed/rescheduled around sporting fixtures.
Also sounds like work is not to reinforce the bridge at ground level, but at parapet level. See reference in article to previous collision damage which I believe is from high vehicles trying to sneak under (the tram bridge was built at a level raised to avoid such strikes, despite there realistically being zero chance they'll ever raise the rail bridges).
Posted 9 years ago # -
work is now to be delayed/rescheduled around sporting fixtures
FFS
Is it really so difficult for the buses to go around the other way?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Lets just hope the damage isn't really that serious...
Posted 9 years ago # -
The trams closed the street for 18 months or so. How is that different than the 6 months network rail wanted to close it for? Trams shut the road for most of 2 complete seasons of football and rugby.
I'm guessing somebody with influence phoned Ms Hinds and told her to block it.
Presume the tram bridges were built higher to prevent them being struck. Seen a lorry make it under the tram bridge only to notice the network rail bridge - then unable to reverse back out.
Given all the right turn bans the closure of Russel Road makes life rather difficult for me to drive down to Sainsbury's. Pah.
Posted 9 years ago # -
When it was "closed" last time, they used to move the HERAS fencing back 2 or 3 metres before match days to widen the pedestrian route for crowds. Sadly despite my emailing and badgering they wouldn't consider doing that the whole time to provide a decent cycle through-route, rather they just stuck up home made "cyclists dismount" signs through the narrow, fenced-in access corridor.
Posted 9 years ago # -
No sign of any damage to the bridges. Suppose it's easier to close the road when you say they've been damaged rather than asking to close the road so you can refurbish them
150111150354IMG_0031 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
150111150323IMG_0030 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
150111150053IMG_0029 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
150111150031IMG_0028 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
150111150020IMG_0027 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
150111145947IMG_0026 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm no structural engineer, but even if I were, I'm not sure I'd diagnose "no damage" on the basis of ground-level pictures :-/
Posted 9 years ago # -
re: the evening news article on postponing the work.
It doesn't look as they are? They've put more signs (or moved some) recently and I see that the "road closed" signs are ready on the pavement...Posted 9 years ago # -
The Road Closed signs are for the Murieston Cresc bridge painting works. It's closed at night from about 10pm - 6am. Diversion route via Macleod Street.
I did notice the closure of Russel Road signs are still up. Guess they're still discussing it. Seems strange that Edin Council say they had no knowledge of the closure.
I do take objection to road signs blocking the pavement
150111150515IMG_0032 by fountainbridge, on Flickr
Posted 9 years ago # -
@Fountainbridge members of this forum have induldged in guerilla sign-moving in the past...
Posted 9 years ago # -
Well it was in a bloody stupid place
Posted 9 years ago # -
Wilmington's Cow, you are inspiration to us all...
(well, to me, anyway ;-). I just don't have photographic evidence...)
Posted 9 years ago #
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