Contrary to some self-appointed experts' predictions, Edinburgh did not grind to a halt this morning. There was no gridlock.
Spurtle observed the York Place diversions from 7.30–9.00am, and for the most part vehicles were travelling steadily across the city.
Council officials we spoke to were grateful for lighter-than-usual levels of rush-hour traffic, and certainly Spurtle saw little evidence of the additional 1,300 westbound vehicles travelling through the New Town which we had been told to expect.
Here's what we did find:
- Abercromby Place was louder than usual, largely due to tyre hiss on the setts along those parts of the street with houses on either side. At the west end, there was occasional disruption caused by lorries pulling away at the lights.
- Crossing Dundas Street and Queen Street Gardens East was an exciting challenge, with none of the pedestrian crossings operational at around 8.15am.
- [img_assist|nid=3203|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=140]The puffin crossing at the junction of Heriot Row and Howe Street is timed to favour vehicles. As a pedestrian, there is therefore a temptation to advance midway across the road and pause on the traffic island. This is a bad idea since lorries pass alarmingly close when turning right from Queen Street Gardens West. The north side of the street has been narrowed with barriers to discourage drivers turning left into Heriot Row from Howe Street (right). Apparently, several cars attempted this manoeuvre earlier this morning, and scratched their paintwork in the process.
- Northbound traffic on Queen Street Gardens West was slow when we observed it, resulting in some hot-headed honking from those at the rear.
- [img_assist|nid=3204|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=130]Traffic turning right from Queen Street into Queen Street Gardens West faced a major problem. It consistently lost out to eastbound Queen Street traffic and pedestrians heading south towards Frederick Street. Long tailbacks resulted (right).
- Eastbound traffic was backed up between Hanover Street and North St David Street at around 8.35am, partly because of a broken-down bus in the left-hand lane. Several vehicles made U-turns and headed back the way they had come.
- [img_assist|nid=3205|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=136]We were at first surprised by the number of cyclists using the pavement outside the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, but the reason soon became clear. The single lane reserved for buses and cyclists between Picardy Place and North St David Street is a potential death-trap for those on two wheels. We strongly advise cyclists to dismount and avoid it.
- At the junction of Queen Street and Dublin Street, we at last saw evidence of tramworks: one man operating a pneumatic drill; four others, arms akimbo, scowling at bus drivers.
- As you walk up Elder Street, the left-hand pavement is closed. So, too, is the one on St James Place.
- Little King Street is an oasis of calm, disturbed only by the sound of pedestrians squeaking when they realise too late that one-way traffic is now moving in the opposite direction.
- Leith Street appeared clear and free-flowing at 8.45am.
- Traffic wardens were having a torrid time at Picardy Place (top-right) as they allowed buses and cyclists westbound along York Place and directed cars, taxis and HGVs right along Broughton Street. The inevitable switching of lanes at the last moment was hugely entertaining for anyone not in a hurry.
- [img_assist|nid=3202|title=|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=200|height=195]Broughton Street was very quiet. During the 15 minutes we watched, 5 cars ignored the compulsory left-hand turn into Albany Street – either by driving on the wrong side of the road (right) or making a U-turn on Albany Street itself – in order to continue their northward progress down Broughton Street. We suspect more drivers will soon catch on to this trick unless the junction is supervised.
All in all, early indications are that the diversions have been a qualified success. It will be interesting to see how they cope with increased levels of traffic during the Festival, and once school-runs resume later next month.
Please send us your impressions, and we'll add them to the bottom of this article.