Trams project enters latest phase

Construction of the first Edinburgh tram line is expected to take three years to complete at a total cost of £498m and will eventually link the city centre to the airport.

Moving utility pipes and cables and preparing the roads for tram tracks is causing traffic disruption and complaints from businesses unhappy with the loss of passing trade.

But the project has widespread support amid hopes it will reduce congestion and on-street pollution and increase business tourism to the capital.

The red route on the map is the line which is currently being built. The blue route, which is a spur of line one, has the go-ahead from the Scottish Government, but Edinburgh City Council would have to give approval to a business plan in the future if it was to go ahead. The green and orange routes are for line two, which has not had approval or funding.