‘Panaroma’ from bridge shutdown

Edinburgh’s Waverley Bridge would be closed off to all traffic under the city’ s transport blueprint.

The route is currently used by taxis and airport buses.

The council hopes the “plaza” will provide an attractive welcome to the Scottish capital for passengers arriving from Waverley Station.

Council transport convener Lesley Macinnes said: “Can you imagine if you were a new visitor to the city or a commuter coming up on to that bridge and having the entire view of the city? The impact that would have is enormous.

“We do not have that, because you are faced with buses. You do not get to see the beautiful panorama.”

The council says any plans will fit in with Network Rail’s over haul of the station in the Waverley master plan. The timescale for potentially pedestrianising Waverley Bridge indicates it could happen from 2022 to 2023.

A former route over the Waverley Valley would also be re-built with a dedicated bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. The new route over Waverley Station from Jeffrey Street to Calton Road would connect the Old Town and New Town.