CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure

St James Redevelopment

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  1. Fountainbridge
    Member

    The proposed diversion routes including "Easter Road gyratory" are on the Evening Snews article

    http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/our-region/edinburgh/leith-street-to-be-shut-for-10-months-as-part-of-st-james-revamp-1-4380237

    Posted 7 years ago #
  2. wingpig
    Member

    I think I'll be avoiding Regent Road for a while.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  3. crowriver
    Member

    So both London Road and Regent Road will be horrendously busy and congested for most of a year. That's going to be a nightmare. My kids have to walk to school across the junction at Montrose Terrace (well from August it will just be the No.2 daughter). I'm not looking forward to the constant noise and pollution. I can only imagine the poor state of the road after Lothian buses' finest have been turning the corner every day for 10 months too...already cratered and cracked, it will resemble the upper half of Leith Walk within a short time.

    If only some of those single occupant drivers would use a different transport mode instead...

    Wait a minute. Looks suspiciously like they will be diverting traffic from Easter Road along Rossie Place and Alva Place? That's complete madness! I notice also from the key that the junction at Montrose Terrace "will require physical alteration": such as removing the traffic refuge presumably? Making it even more dangerous to cross than currently?

    I can imagine a number of folk in this wee corner of Edinburgh will be boycotting the new St James centre if the disruption is as bad as it looks like it will be...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  4. crowriver
    Member

    "Measures installed in a bid to keep traffic moving will include traffic lights replacing the roundabout at the junction of London Road and Easter Road."

    Eh? Shurely shome mistake? (Ed.)) Maybe they mean Elm Row?

    Or are they going to install a roundabout on London Road at Montrose Terrace? (I hope not).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  5. neddie
    Member

    If* they ensure that the buses have their own lanes and prevent parking in them on the diversion route, then the buses will be fine and the rest of the traffic will have to sort itself out. As traffic is self-limiting, I'm sure there will be some evaporation.

    *If only... but...

    TIE

    Posted 7 years ago #
  6. Arellcat
    Moderator

    So both London Road and Regent Road will be horrendously busy and congested for most of a year. That's going to be a nightmare.

    Also think what'll happen to the city centre-avoiding traffic that normally uses Queen's Drive to Abbeyhill/Abbeymount to Easter Road. I suspect a lot of that traffic will displace itself east to Meadowbank and Smokey Brae, which is already frequently at maximum capacity.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  7. LaidBack
    Member

    Did the John Lewis Partnership not come out against congestion charging? This might even equal the tram works. Sure air monitoring stations will be working overtime.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  8. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Conservatives city centre councillor Joanna Mowat stressed the need for diverted bus routes to get commuters to work and customers to be able to get to businesses on Leith Street.

    You mean the same 4 businesses who appear to be constantly parked in the bus lane for the last x number of years reducing Leith Street to 1 direction westbound and causing untold congestion just so they can dump their motors outside their shops?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  9. Fountainbridge
    Member

    My write up on the proposed plans

    http://fountainbridge.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/my-thoughts-on-proposed-leith-street.html

    I seem to remember media reporting Leith Street remain open for cyclists. It doesn't look like it to me.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  10. neddie
    Member

    Leith St Stakeholder Engagement

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/4dblv3xm8yvehq7/Leith%20Street%20Presentation.pdf?dl=0

    Contains some details about the closure & visualisations of Leith St (after the works)

    Posted 7 years ago #
  11. Fountainbridge
    Member

    Contains some details about the closure & visualisations of Leith St

    *Subject to further planning application

    Posted 7 years ago #
  12. Min
    Member

    I seem to remember media reporting Leith Street remain open for cyclists. It doesn't look like it to me.

    The cooncil newsletter says:-

    Access for pedestrians, cyclists and emergency services will be maintained throughout the works.

    So it looks like they are being sensible for a change. Maybe it will persuade some people out of their cars and onto their bikes?

    Posted 7 years ago #
  13. chdot
    Admin

    "Maybe it will persuade some people out of their cars and onto their bikes?"

    Posted 7 years ago #
  14. Min
    Member

    Hmm, that is confusing. The council thing says that the closure won't start until September this year. I note that Calton Road will still be open though which is the worst bit for cycling. Hopefully there will not be too many angry rat runners swerving over cyclists front wheels to get to it.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  15. neddie
    Member

    I seriously hope that this view (page 10) is not the final plan for Leith St:

    leith st by Ed, on Flickr

    Is that really the best they can manage?

    - Room for 5 lanes of motor traffic.
    - Somehow, no room for a segregated cycleway south of Calton Rd.
    - Staggered 2-stage pedestrian crossings everywhere (no doubt with no priority for peds.)
    - Rubbishy 2-way segregated cycleway on one side, instead of 1-way on each side.
    - Cycleway that just gives up at Calton Rd., with cyclists continuing up Leith St. having to wait at the junction.
    - Same old narrow pavements.
    - What looks like a pinch-point on the footway (lower left of image).

    Another image on page 7 even shows a female cyclist "braving it" in 4 lanes of motor traffic.

    So motor dominated, so pedestrian and cyclist unfriendly.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  16. Klaxon
    Member

    Leith St is coping just fine with 1 lane each way.

    One could argue for a right turning lane into Greenside Row

    That gives you 2 full lanes to do something really good with.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  17. crowriver
    Member

    TOUGH QUESTIONS ON LEITH STREET
    from the Spurtle

    http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/tough-questions-leith-street

    Posted 7 years ago #
  18. PS
    Member

    Leith St is coping just fine with 1 lane each way.

    One could argue for a right turning lane into Greenside Row

    That gives you 2 full lanes to do something really good with.

    Like so many Edinburgh streets, although 4 lanes wide, its de facto width is 2 lanes, given the inside lane on either side is either obstructed by parked cars or buses dropping off/picking up passengers. God only knows why the road designers can't see this and give the wasted tarmac over to either wider pavements or (on this important arterial route) segregated cycle paths...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  19. Klaxon
    Member

    It's quite likely behind closed doors that the developer doesn't want Leith St gentrified beyond a traffic sewer as it will make the routes via the shopping centre much more attractive.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  20. mgj
    Member

    Maybe they do know, but also that there is no appetite for enforcement, so any expansion of the pavement would not reduce the amount of parking...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  21. crowriver
    Member

    "any expansion of the pavement would not reduce the amount of parking"

    Indeed.

    Vis the cracked flags outside the Starbucks, caused no doubt by van and light goods vehicle drivers "just popping in" for a coffee, loading fresh milk, etc. Also see Leith Walk for a litany of illegal pavement parking antics on the brand new paving...

    Posted 7 years ago #
  22. PS
    Member

    no appetite for enforcement

    I see they have recently added double yellow stripes on the Hanover Street kerbs to add emphasis to the double yellow lines that are already there. Result? Three cars parked on the double yellows outside HSBC at 12.30 today...

    Possibly not unrelated to the above, last week I passed a parking attendant talking to a squaddie* who had parked his car on the double yellows on the other side of the street. I think the squaddie had seen him coming so had leapt out with his excuses ready. However, the parking attendant's response was "Don't worry about it, you're fine, pal..."
    (*Assumed squaddie, I guess - it could conceivably have been a guy in a camouflage suit, accessorised with a behackled beret).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  23. Big_Smoke
    Member

    Another dog's breakfast. I like how the two way is expected to work with the crossing angry and give priority to people in motors turning into the car park from both ends. Single on both sides would be preferred then not give up at calton road.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  24. Big_Smoke
    Member

    I meant that the crossing is meant to work with people on foot and bicycle is meant to be crammed in together. It's boggling, especially as the light phases are so long.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  25. mgj
    Member

    Isnt single lane just building in conflict from the start? At the moment, after puffing up Leith Walk you have to assert primary to continue up Leith St with impatient drivers behind, and whizzing traffic going down Calton Road on your left (if you are lucky). Road surface is crumbling. It would be nice to not have a car right up behind you when approaching the always parked cars outside the café and bridal shop (same cars every day - silver golf, avensis etc).

    Posted 7 years ago #
  26. Murun Buchstansangur
    Member

    Calton Road to be closed again to vehicles soon. Past experience suggests they will need tank traps to enforce it (although a dirty big hole in the ground may also work).

    http://www.broughtonspurtle.org.uk/news/mains-work-begins-leith-street

    Posted 7 years ago #
  27. gembo
    Member

    Was closed today but being ignored by bikes both ways. On way back someone had moved comes somdpcould drive down it in easterly direction so does not take long.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  28. chdot
    Admin

    Posted 7 years ago #
  29. Greenroofer
    Member

    Somebody clearly wants something to stop.

    Posted 7 years ago #
  30. Fountainbridge
    Member

    On way back someone had moved comes somdpcould drive down it in easterly direction

    I think it's delivery vehicles and bin men for the travellodge hotel. There's no other real way in for them to the rear loading bay and bin store.

    Posted 7 years ago #

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