Edinburgh traffic..... gawd help us !
Discussion
Ive been working near to Edinburgh for over a year now, been absolutely horrific with the traffic. like some of the road design is just so against driving and the motorist.
I leave work and come out of a temporary car park near to the ERI. There is a bus gate to my right so have to turn left. I have a choice but they both lead to the A7 one direct the other weaves around the hospital.
the A7 towards sheriff hall is a joke. South towards the B701 you have a stupid traffic island a few hundred yards before the traffic light junction. so you cant get traffic splitting for the junction. Then likewise as you go through you come to the traffic lights for the wisp - this again isn't splt so you have traffic queuing for the lights in one line.
The road is substandard and crammed every night. drip and drab into sheriff hall and then the bypass - oh the joys. no thought to getting traffic moving okay and making reasonable use of the road. Or shock horror build another road, something that relieves the traffic and lets it flow better, would reduce the stress of the commute and decrease pollution.
I leave work and come out of a temporary car park near to the ERI. There is a bus gate to my right so have to turn left. I have a choice but they both lead to the A7 one direct the other weaves around the hospital.
the A7 towards sheriff hall is a joke. South towards the B701 you have a stupid traffic island a few hundred yards before the traffic light junction. so you cant get traffic splitting for the junction. Then likewise as you go through you come to the traffic lights for the wisp - this again isn't splt so you have traffic queuing for the lights in one line.
The road is substandard and crammed every night. drip and drab into sheriff hall and then the bypass - oh the joys. no thought to getting traffic moving okay and making reasonable use of the road. Or shock horror build another road, something that relieves the traffic and lets it flow better, would reduce the stress of the commute and decrease pollution.
You dont say where your final destination is but would driving to gilmerton cross roads help? You can bypass sheriffhall altogther that way and come out at butterfly world or hit the city bypass a junction on from sheriffhall.
Also by going on to the wisp you can get to fort kinaird by following thr back road past the car valeting place. You can get to fort kinaird by going over the craigmillar castle road as well
Also by going on to the wisp you can get to fort kinaird by following thr back road past the car valeting place. You can get to fort kinaird by going over the craigmillar castle road as well
There is hope :-)
Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
Uppity said:
There is hope :-)
Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
It mentions the term "ground investigations" though - is that not normally what the small print says when the SG announce they have started work on something when in reality all it means is 6 men have drilled 20 holes with a giant auger?Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
I am sure they "started work" in this way on the Nairn bypass 2 years ago.
I avoid driving through around Edinburgh whenever possible - it really is a nasty place to use a car - even the bus service, while very good, can take ages to get anywhere during rush hour - it's frequently as quick to walk if the distance is under 2 miles through town at peak times.
Uppity said:
There is hope :-)
Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
This is about 10 years late though; it won't achieve much given the congestion on the city bypass which is a bigger issue and much more difficult to resolve. Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
I was an elected Councillor in East Lothian for 5 years (ending last year) and sat as vice chair of planning and a board member of the "strategic" body which is meant to plan the significant growth planned in the South East Scotland area. Unfortunately what little emphasis there was on transport was focussed on public transport, and even then none of the planned interventions are going to make any meaningful difference. East Lothian is seen as part of Edinburgh's wider job market so a high percentage of the people buying the 10,000 homes which are being built over the next 10 years (in EL alone) are going to have to commute into Edinburgh. Given the East Coast mainline is close to capacity and the trains aren't big enough to meet the exisiting demand (longer trains due later this year but they won't take long to fill up), public transport isn't viable for most, especially those who work in the west of the city and beyond. Add in the massive growth of Edinburgh and Midlothian and the problem is going to get much, much worse over the next 5-10 years. I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country; a borders railway which is in part single line with bridges designed without any spare capacity for line upgrades, a new Forth bridge with the same capacity as the existing, and a city bypass that reached capacity a few months/years after it was completed to name but a few...
One of former colleagues suggested (with a straight face) that in a few years home working would mean fewer people commuting, and that this would somehow solve the problem....
What's the betting the current flyover plan and the Borders Rail diveunder just east of the roundabout are in conflict with each other and either dramatically inflate the cost/make it much more difficult/result in the road and/or railway being shut for months?
I thought the big problem with Sheriffhall was the mine workings from Bilston Glen or Monktonhall pit were either near or under the roundabout, meaning the ground couldn't take the weight of flyover supports - either something's changed or there's going to have to be an awful lot of grout injected under there (maybe it was when Borders Rail was built?). Either way, hopefully it doesn't end up like the grade separation at Auchenkilns on the (then) A80 - it collapsed after the ground subsided!
I thought the big problem with Sheriffhall was the mine workings from Bilston Glen or Monktonhall pit were either near or under the roundabout, meaning the ground couldn't take the weight of flyover supports - either something's changed or there's going to have to be an awful lot of grout injected under there (maybe it was when Borders Rail was built?). Either way, hopefully it doesn't end up like the grade separation at Auchenkilns on the (then) A80 - it collapsed after the ground subsided!
tim0409 said:
This is about 10 years late though; it won't achieve much given the congestion on the city bypass which is a bigger issue and much more difficult to resolve.
I was an elected Councillor in East Lothian for 5 years (ending last year) and sat as vice chair of planning and a board member of the "strategic" body which is meant to plan the significant growth planned in the South East Scotland area. Unfortunately what little emphasis there was on transport was focussed on public transport, and even then none of the planned interventions are going to make any meaningful difference. East Lothian is seen as part of Edinburgh's wider job market so a high percentage of the people buying the 10,000 homes which are being built over the next 10 years (in EL alone) are going to have to commute into Edinburgh. Given the East Coast mainline is close to capacity and the trains aren't big enough to meet the exisiting demand (longer trains due later this year but they won't take long to fill up), public transport isn't viable for most, especially those who work in the west of the city and beyond. Add in the massive growth of Edinburgh and Midlothian and the problem is going to get much, much worse over the next 5-10 years. I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country; a borders railway which is in part single line with bridges designed without any spare capacity for line upgrades, a new Forth bridge with the same capacity as the existing, and a city bypass that reached capacity a few months/years after it was completed to name but a few...
One of former colleagues suggested (with a straight face) that in a few years home working would mean fewer people commuting, and that this would somehow solve the problem....
Whilst not in any way surprising that is frightening. I doubt ECC is any better either. I was an elected Councillor in East Lothian for 5 years (ending last year) and sat as vice chair of planning and a board member of the "strategic" body which is meant to plan the significant growth planned in the South East Scotland area. Unfortunately what little emphasis there was on transport was focussed on public transport, and even then none of the planned interventions are going to make any meaningful difference. East Lothian is seen as part of Edinburgh's wider job market so a high percentage of the people buying the 10,000 homes which are being built over the next 10 years (in EL alone) are going to have to commute into Edinburgh. Given the East Coast mainline is close to capacity and the trains aren't big enough to meet the exisiting demand (longer trains due later this year but they won't take long to fill up), public transport isn't viable for most, especially those who work in the west of the city and beyond. Add in the massive growth of Edinburgh and Midlothian and the problem is going to get much, much worse over the next 5-10 years. I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country; a borders railway which is in part single line with bridges designed without any spare capacity for line upgrades, a new Forth bridge with the same capacity as the existing, and a city bypass that reached capacity a few months/years after it was completed to name but a few...
One of former colleagues suggested (with a straight face) that in a few years home working would mean fewer people commuting, and that this would somehow solve the problem....
I think you may work in the same place I did for 3 years then, or maybe the new site across the road...
Sheriffhall is definitely to be avoided at afternoon rush hour if heading west.
Either (routes and road numbers should be easy to see on Google Maps):
A. Take A7 up the hill then first right at the lights toward Gilmerton crossroads (as mentioned above). Left at the crossroads, the right at the roundabout (next to the new housing estate being built). Then join the Bypass at the Lasswade junction.
B. Turn right onto A7 (city bound) then left onto Kingston Avenue around the back of the golf course. Follow this across several crossroads into Liberton then turn left onto the A701. Right onto the B701 then join the Bypass at Fairmilehead. Note that this route has a lot of speed bumps, and the roads are in a terrible state. So much so that I preferred to sit in traffic than drive this route, but handy if traffic is at a standstill.
There are other rat runs, but ultimately it’s difficult to avoid.
Sheriffhall is definitely to be avoided at afternoon rush hour if heading west.
Either (routes and road numbers should be easy to see on Google Maps):
A. Take A7 up the hill then first right at the lights toward Gilmerton crossroads (as mentioned above). Left at the crossroads, the right at the roundabout (next to the new housing estate being built). Then join the Bypass at the Lasswade junction.
B. Turn right onto A7 (city bound) then left onto Kingston Avenue around the back of the golf course. Follow this across several crossroads into Liberton then turn left onto the A701. Right onto the B701 then join the Bypass at Fairmilehead. Note that this route has a lot of speed bumps, and the roads are in a terrible state. So much so that I preferred to sit in traffic than drive this route, but handy if traffic is at a standstill.
There are other rat runs, but ultimately it’s difficult to avoid.
Cant comment on the above post's as I do not live in Edinburgh ..This week I drove from E-K to Gorgie Rd twice, going through was fine but coming back was a nightmare esp the Friday commute around 3.15pm The whole way was wall to wall ,the standard of driving was atrocious the outside lane of the M8 it was one long conga line .I sat in the inside lane achieving the same speed as those in the outside lane only moving over to pass trucks then move back in again a van sat in the outside lane for 30 miles and not once moved over to allow cars to pass crazy This must be the worst M road in Scotland unless you know differently .
As said previously, Edinburgh council has no interest in making things better for car drivers. This all started over 20 years ago when a certain Mr Begg was drafted in by the council to start the process of change that now results. When I lived in the West end from 91-97 it was quite pleasant to get around by car, the nightmare that is now has been 'created'.
Sadly(as I now live in Glasgow)
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=21...
Sadly(as I now live in Glasgow)
https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=21...
Edited by Dinoboy on Saturday 10th February 17:04
tim0409 said:
I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country;...
To true! a classic example being the A80 past Cumbernauld being upgraded to motorway. Who the f
k thought dual 2 lane was a good idea? After all it links 4 motorway lanes (M80 and M73) to the south and another 4 to the north (M80 and M876). It doesn't take a genius to figure that 4 lanes funneling into 2 will be congested. The main link from Glasgow to the north and someone though two lanes each way was the answer. Stop start traffic morning and evening rush hour as soon as the road opened. I heard from someone who works in motorway engineering that someone in Edinburgh made the call for a fairly trivial saving. Probably someone who would never need to drive it.
irc said:
tim0409 said:
I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country;...
To true! a classic example being the A80 past Cumbernauld being upgraded to motorway. Who the fk thought dual 2 lane was a good idea? After all it links 4 motorway lanes (M80 and M73) to the south and another 4 to the north (M80 and M876). It doesn't take a genius to figure that 4 lanes funneling into 2 will be congested. The main link from Glasgow to the north and someone though two lanes each way was the answer. Stop start traffic morning and evening rush hour as soon as the road opened. I heard from someone who works in motorway engineering that someone in Edinburgh made the call for a fairly trivial saving. Probably someone who would never need to drive it.
Uppity said:
There is hope :-)
Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
I was unaware this was happening. I drive this road on a Friday evening and once past Dreghorn it normally starts moving better but then I come off at Lasswade rather than partake in the queues. The flyover will make a huge difference!Work starts on the new Sheriffhall flyover this month - https://www.midlothianadvertiser.co.uk/news/transp...
stevensdrs said:
irc said:
tim0409 said:
I highlighted this point at every opportunity but planning is so short sighted in this Country;...
To true! a classic example being the A80 past Cumbernauld being upgraded to motorway. Who the fk thought dual 2 lane was a good idea? After all it links 4 motorway lanes (M80 and M73) to the south and another 4 to the north (M80 and M876). It doesn't take a genius to figure that 4 lanes funneling into 2 will be congested. The main link from Glasgow to the north and someone though two lanes each way was the answer. Stop start traffic morning and evening rush hour as soon as the road opened. I heard from someone who works in motorway engineering that someone in Edinburgh made the call for a fairly trivial saving. Probably someone who would never need to drive it.
And yes I agree we shouldn't have listened to the tree huggers. The original Kelvin Valley proposal was best.
f
king tree huggers. Remember they almost stopped the M74 completion? The publlc enquiry ruled against it and had to be overruled by the govt. Motoring public 1 - tree hugggers nil!http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4379553.stm
Edited by irc on Sunday 11th February 17:46
woodysnr said:
Cant comment on the above post's as I do not live in Edinburgh ..This week I drove from E-K to Gorgie Rd twice, going through was fine but coming back was a nightmare esp the Friday commute around 3.15pm The whole way was wall to wall ,the standard of driving was atrocious the outside lane of the M8 it was one long conga line .I sat in the inside lane achieving the same speed as those in the outside lane only moving over to pass trucks then move back in again a van sat in the outside lane for 30 miles and not once moved over to allow cars to pass crazy This must be the worst M road in Scotland unless you know differently .
I use the M8 every day and its like this EVERY DAY and there is nothing you can do about it. Every so often I end up undertaking 8-10 cars but to be honest there are so many slow cars and HGV's in lane 1 that you are stuck doing the 60-65mph in lane 2 with the rest of the Lemmings. Dinoboy said:
As said previously, Edinburgh council has no interest in making things better for car drivers. This all started over 20 years ago when a certain Mr Begg was drafted in by the council to start the process of change that now results. When I lived in the West end from 91-97 it was quite pleasant to get around by car, the nightmare that is now has been 'created'.
Would it have been any better if the city had not been anti-car? It's a pretty compact city that is surrounded by water on one side with ever increasing commuter numbers trying to get in or near to the centre.Forward thinking might have been to increase better public transport options much earlier, but I am not sure how practical that would have been - it is surprising sometimes that the situation is not much worse.
This makes for depressing reading... more so as I'm relocating out towards Haddington direction and for the short term (I hope!) will be commuting back to Fife which doesn't exactly fill me with enthusiasm. Hopefully work will be understanding and worst case allow a shift in hours to try and avoid the peak hours and best case, do that plus look at a four day week. Granted the train is an option but makes it rather expensive but it's at least there if required.
Anybody currently travelling east to west and back again round the bypass and able to shed some light on when it starts to get busy? I'd hoped to be on the road and over the bridge by 7am and then in the evenings, leave it until after 6pm but I fear that may be wistful thinking!
A cheap jetski may be a worthwhile purchase!
Anybody currently travelling east to west and back again round the bypass and able to shed some light on when it starts to get busy? I'd hoped to be on the road and over the bridge by 7am and then in the evenings, leave it until after 6pm but I fear that may be wistful thinking!
A cheap jetski may be a worthwhile purchase!
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