Edinburgh’s Trams to Newhaven project is on its last leg of development as final sections of track are soon to be laid, and developers are preparing to electrify the full line.
The City of Edinburgh Council has anticipated that all “major construction” will be completed by the end of this year.
According to the council, the final sections of Trams to Newhaven track are soon to be laid, and the project is preparing to electrify the full line.
Two final concrete pours will take place this week at Rennie’s Isle and Melrose Drive. The council has said Rennie’s Isle will be the longest concrete pour on the project at 170 metres, and once completed, tracks will be laid from Picardy Place to Newhaven.
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Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, said: “Both the electrification of overhead lines along the entire Trams to Newhaven route and final concrete pours are major milestones for this important Council project, and signal the final touches being made before we see trams on Leith Walk and beyond.
“A great deal of work has gone into reaching this stage, as progress on tracklaying, completed sections and other elements shows. That the project is still on schedule for delivery on time and in budget is thanks to the efforts of the entire team involved, who have had to contend with a Covid-related site shutdown and industry-wide labour and material challenges over the last three years.
“Of course, I’m also appreciative of local residents and businesses for their patience during this time. I’m confident that the finished scheme will be extremely beneficial to the community, transforming the streetscape, boosting the economy and proving reliable, sustainable journeys to and from the city centre.
The Trams to Newhaven project, which runs through Leith Walk and Broughton Street among other areas, has caused traffic, bus diversions and community frustrations along Leith Walk as development has been ongoing since November 2019.
However, on Monday, the council announced that the Trams to Newhaven project is on schedule for completion by Spring 2023. The project is also within its £207.3m budget with all major construction anticipated to be complete by the end of 2022 ahead of the testing and commissioning period.
To date, 4.5km (96 percent) of track has been laid, with tram track now running continuously from Picardy Place to Tower Place, 100% of utility diversions have been completed and major civil works are finished on five of the eight new tram stops.
Maria Ortega, Sacyr Farrans Neopul (SFN), Project Director on Edinburgh Trams York Place to Newhaven, said: “As contractors on the Trams to Newhaven project we are excited to be reaching these key milestones which are critical to ensuring the delivery of the Edinburgh Trams to Newhaven Line. Our efforts are firmly focused on ensuring that we continue to work in a safe and timely manner to deliver a high-quality end product.
“As contractors, SFN has brought extensive experience in the light rail sector to this project. Despite the challenges of unprecedented times that we have experienced throughout the life cycle of the project we are proud of the progress we have made by working successfully alongside our partners, supply chain and client.”
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