Weak bridge on Milton Road

[Brian McCrow]

This could be the first topic on which we vote to determine if it moves onto Porty Matters.

We've been told that the railway bridge over which the Milton Road passes east of the Milton Link roundabout is too weak to take heavy traffic. Narrowed lanes will be introduced and heavy vehicles over 40 tons and very wide loads will have to be diverted through Portobello High St. for the next 3 or 4 years, until the bridge is strengthened.

Perhaps heavy and wide loads should be diverted along different routes rather than passing through already heavily used roads near Schools, Nurseries and residential areas. The Transport department should put their thinking caps on for a more imaginative solution.

At the same time can we put up heavy and wide load restriction signs leading into Porty?

[wangi]

Oooh, I actually done a bit of research into this topic when I read about it in one of the newsletters...

The council report is available at: http://cpol.edinburgh.gov.uk/getdoc_ext.asp?DocID=54050

Now, if you read that you see there are no plans to restrict heavy vehicles. Instead the bride will be reduced from 3 lanes to 2.

However I also looked into the following claim "The west side line forms part of the South Suburban line which is much less heavily trafficked at this location, however it does carry one northbound passenger train each week. A temporary propping solution allowing unrestricted road vehicle passage is therefore not feasible." and it is to be honest rubbish. There was a single early sunday morning train in the summer timetable - and it only routed via the sub due to maint work elsewhere. Network Rail could easily reduce to one rail under the bridge by installing a point at the end of Brunstane station.

[foxy]

This could be the first topic on which we vote to determine if it moves onto Porty Matters.

Of course this should be included in Porty Matters

You shouldn't have to ask