A CYCLE lane to replace the popular City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL) route has finally been confirmed after roadworks blocked the lane in January.
Spokes, cycling campaigners in the city, first lodged complaints against Scottish Water after no northbound diversion was put in place.
The roadworks commenced at Rosebery Crescent in Haymarket on 20 January and are now moving into their next phase.
Scottish Water has confirmed that they are providing a designated cycle lane alongside the works to accommodate cyclists safely.
The CCWEL route connects Roseburn to Leith Walk, and is described as “suitable for less confident cyclists and anyone who’s concerned about cycling in busy traffic”.
Situated along some of Edinburgh’s busiest streets, it provides a safer route for walking, wheeling, and cycling, and links key transport interchanges with the existing off-road cycle network.
In January, a section of Rosebery Crescent was closed to all vehicles between Haymarket Terrace and Rosebery Crescent Lane, which are moving north of the lane this month.
Whilst pedestrian access has been maintained, Spokes pointed out that there was zero mention of how this would affect the CCWEL, which runs through the area after West Coates and before Melville Street.
They complained to the group carrying out the works, saying that “it’s likely that 500-1,000 cycle trips per day would be affected by these works and this seems a large discrepancy”.
They also made reference to the increase in cyclists, not least due to significant government spending into active travel measures such as Leith Connections, and also noted the levels of cyclists killed or seriously injured in Edinburgh.
After over a month since the works began, an alternative cycling route is set to be put in place with a signed diversion to replace the CCWEL northbound closure.
As the works moved into their next phase yesterday, Scottish Water confirmed: “we have been able to provide a designated cycle lane alongside the works to accommodate cyclists safely”.
Spokes posted to social media yesterday, saying: “After several complaints to Scottish Water, success.”
Scottish Water state that the works should take a few more months, and the City of Edinburgh Council records say the works are “ongoing” with no confirmed end date released.
