Street to shut to move huge cable

Constitution Street will be closed from the end of the month Enlarge Image

Work to move six kilometres of utility cable from a city street to make way for Edinburgh's tram network system is to start at the end of the month.

The work at Constitution Street is part of the second major phase of Edinburgh's tram construction project.

It will mean road closures and diversions in the Leith area.

Major work to move utility cables started in Shandwick Place on Saturday but the diversion routes have posed no significant congestion problems.

The work will last from March to September and comprises three main phases.

At the foot of Leith Walk, westbound traffic will be diverted along Great Junction Street.

'Open for business'

Northbound traffic will be diverted off Leith Walk on to Dalmeny Street and on to Easter Road.

Diversions will then take traffic along Duncan Place and Johns Place on to Queen Charlotte Street.

Southbound traffic will also flow from Constitution Street on to Queen Charlotte Street, along Johns Place and Duncan Place, rejoining Leith Walk on Manderson Street.

Willie Gallagher, executive chairman of Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, said enabling work for the traffic management in the area had already begun.

He said: "As with the work on Shandwick Place we have worked closely with our partners in Edinburgh City Council, Lothian Buses and the emergency services and developed the best solution that provides optimum flow for both public transport and other traffic."

Phil Wheeler, Edinburgh Council's transport convener, added: "As before these measures help to ensure that Edinburgh remains open for business throughout the delivery period for the tram."