Gas works spark misery on Edinburgh's roads

MOTORISTS are facing more traffic misery after a £270,000 project got under way to replace ageing gas mains on one of the Capital's busiest roads.

The work on London Road began earlier this week, just as another massive programme of roadworks at nearby Jock's Lodge was completed.

Road signs advertise the London Road job as expected to take up to 14 weeks to complete, but the contractor said it was hopeful the scheme would be finished by Christmas.

Elsewhere in the city there are currently nearly 500 different sets of works under way or about to begin, according to the Scottish Roadworks Commissioner.

Scotia Gas Networks, the company carrying out the work on London Road, said the emergency repairs would be carried out in two phases, adding it was "all systems go", but taxi drivers said the work would lead to "confusion" and "chaos" in the busy run-up to Christmas.

Raymond Davidson, secretary of the Edinburgh Taxi Association, said: "It's going to be absolutely horrendous, especially now that we've got the Christmas rush.

"There's also We Will Rock You at the Playhouse, which will bring even more traffic into the area.

"There's going to be utter confusion, and there just doesn't seem to be an end to all these roadworks."

The work, which had been scheduled to take place as part of a multi-million-pound programme across the city, was brought forward after a series of gas leaks in the area.

Sharon Miller-Mckenzie, a spokeswoman for Scotia Gas Networks, said: "There was a gas escape in the area and we've been monitoring it closely.

"We had the opportunity to do the replacement work now and eliminate future gas escapes.

"All systems are go to get the work done before Christmas.

"We want to thank everybody for their patience as we appreciate it is never easy when there are roadworks."

The work, which will see around 650 metres of old gas pipes replaced with new plastic mains, will take place in streets including Cadzow Place, Abbey Lane, Abbey Street and Montrose Terrace.

There will be lane closures on London Road itself, with the work being carried out between the junctions with Easter Road and Wishaw Terrace.

A council spokesman said work to upgrade the busy Jock's Lodge junction had been completed on Thursday – a day ahead of schedule.

The project to overhaul ageing traffic signals equipment and improve pedestrian safety had been ongoing since September.

A £800,000 gas mains replacement scheme in Ferry Road, which has been causing traffic problems since June, is also expected to be completed within the next few weeks, as is a similar project in Craigmillar.

Earlier this year, the Evening News revealed motorists in Edinburgh face 23 years of hold-ups as contractors replace 400 miles of gas mains under the city's streets.