Business as usual as latest tram works begin at York Place

The City of Edinburgh Council has pledged to continue to engage with local traders, and to drive home the message to shoppers and visitors that Edinburgh remains open for business.

A regular series of meetings will give business owners direct access to senior Council officials and key Council project staff so that any emerging concerns can be directly addressed. Meanwhile the tram stakeholder team will be erecting directional signage to help drive footfall to local businesses.

Councillor Lesley Hinds, Transport Convener, said the project was entering a critical stage: "While the road may be closed the shops are still open and we'll be doing everything we can to make sure people know that it's still business as usual on York Place. We'll be providing logistical help to make sure goods get delivered on time and our tram stakeholder team will be listening to local concerns and acting on them where possible. I appreciate this is a difficult time and would like to thank the public for their continued cooperation."

York Place is the last major work site to open up in the city centre. It will be closed to all traffic between Queen Street and Elder Street from 1am on Saturday 22 September 2012.  As announced last week, the bus station will remain open during this stage of construction.

CITY CENTRE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT UPDATE and map

During this phase of tram works, pedestrian footpaths on York Place will remain open at all times, providing access to all shops and businesses, with well-signed crossing points installed throughout the worksite areas. A traffic lane will be available at all times within the worksite for emergency service access.

Specific passenger information is available from individual bus companies.

Buses will be able to access the bus station via a diversion route using Leith Street, Little King Street, St. James Place and Elder Street. Only buses will be permitted to exit the station via Elder Street and York Place. A single lane along York Place will be available solely for bus traffic exiting the bus station towards Picardy Place.

Taxis and cars will also be able to access the bus station via Leith Street, Little King Street, St. James Place and Elder Street to allow passengers to be dropped off. However, these vehicles will only be permitted to exit the area in a southbound direction along Elder Street towards James Craig Walk, which provides a route direct to Leith Street via a tunnel beneath the Thistle Hotel.

General access will be maintained to the St. James Centre and John Lewis car parks at all times.

Existing westbound diversions for general traffic remain in place for Broughton Street, Albany Street, Abercromby Place, Heriot Row and Queen Street Gardens West (and vice versa for eastbound traffic).

Princes Street is currently anticipated to be fully open for buses, taxis and cycles from the end of November.