Work starts on £19.4m Edinburgh cycling and walking route
Work has started in Edinburgh on the £19.4m City Centre West to East Link (CCWEL), a major new cycling and walking route linking the east and the west of the city. The project is funded by the Scottish Government through Sustrans.
When complete, the scheme will connect Roseburn to Leith Walk via Haymarket and the West End with a safe and direct cycle route, as well as significantly enhancing streets for those walking, wheeling and spending time there. The route links to several other Sustrans-led projects in the city including the recently completed George Street cycling thoroughfare.
Construction is expected to last around 18 months.
Councillor Lesley Macinnes, Transport and Environment Convener describes the project as “one of the largest pieces of safe walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure the Capital has seen yet.
“The CCWEL project is just one of a range of bold initiatives to transform the way we travel around Edinburgh. We are committed to becoming a net zero city by 2030 and a key element of this is encouraging and supporting clean and sustainable modes of transport through projects like this.”
Councillor Karen Doran, Transport and Environment Vice Convener, added, “Not only will the project impact on the surrounding environment, reducing traffic, air pollution and noise, but it will help benefit people’s health and wellbeing through active travel and relaxed surroundings to spend time in.”
Minister for Active Travel Patrick Harvie said, “I want to see many more schemes similar to this in communities across Scotland. That’s why we’re nearly tripling what Scotland invests in active travel over the next three years to at least £320 million a year.
“I’m committed to making sure those record levels of investment lead to real change in our cities, towns and neighbourhoods, delivering safe, attractive places for many more people to walk, wheel and cycle.”
The project, overseen by contractors Balfour Beatty, includes a number of measures to cut carbon emissions during construction. Site compounds will utilise ‘EcoSense’ cabins in conjunction with an ECONET power management system, which significantly reduces energy consumption and water usage.
Project officers will also use e-bikes rather than cars to travel between the site compound and works areas wherever possible.
Scott Ritchie, Senior Project Manager, Balfour Beatty, said, “We are pleased to be working with the City of Edinburgh Council to deliver this incredibly important scheme which will transform the way people travel, moving from a reliance on cars to active travel.