Tram workers graft through the night for festive schedule

TRAM contractors have been ordered to work through the night to make sure Princes Street is ready to be reopened in time for the looming festive deadline.

Traffic is due to return to the street on 28 November once work to lay the city's first set of tram tracks is completed.

But with the deadline fast approaching, contractors are now working during the night to make sure things are finished in time for the handover and a packed programme of Christmas events.

Contractors last night worked from 7pm to 7am to reconfigure the junction of Hanover Street and George Street.

The work was part of the ongoing effort to have Princes Street ready in time for the end of the month, with further night-time work planned.

Failure to meet the deadline would be a major embarrassment for the city council, with leader Jenny Dawe admitting it will go "right up to the wire".

Previous botched attempts to introduce new traffic management measures mean the council is no longer willing to risk reopening the street on a weekday.

So failure to hit the deadline would result in the reopening of Princes Street being delayed for at least a week, a move which would anger hard-up retailers.

Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "It is all going to plan for reopening Princes Street, but it will be right up to the wire, there is no doubt about that.

"A lot of people will have to pull out all the stops because if we miss that day it will have to be another week, as never again will we reintroduce traffic changes during the week."

Deputy council leader Steve Cardownie said it would be a "PR disaster" for TIE if the tram firm failed to have the street ready in time.

He said: "It's vitally important to have the street back open in time. TIE appear to be confident of meeting the deadline and the public are looking forward to having Princes Street restored to its former glory. They now have to do everything possible to make sure it's ready on time."

City leaders had initially planned to use the festive period to trial pedestrianisation plans, but that idea was dumped after pressure from retailers suffering the double whammy of the recession and the tram works.

Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of communications and customer service for the tram project, said: "We are pleased with the progress being made on Princes Street and everyone is committed to ensuring that the street is returned to the city as planned for the opening weekend of the 28th."

She added that sections of Princes Street would be ready for handover on the morning of 26 November in time for the Edinburgh Sparkles campaign.