Edinburgh travel: Work begins on Roseburn to Union Canal 'green corridor' with Western Approach Road closure

Work is under way to transform public spaces along a route between Roseburn and the Union Canal, creating a ‘green corridor’ and cycleway and bringing disused areas back into community use.

Construction on the £12.5 million Roseburn to Union Canal Active Travel Route and Greenspace Improvements project will begin today (Monday), when site preparation starts, and is expected to last until April 2024. The scheme is split into three sections - Sauchiebank Gardens, Duff Street Woodland and Dalry Community Park.

Funding for the project has been provided by Sustrans through its Places for Everyone programme, an active travel infrastructure fund backed by the Scottish Government, which helps deliver walking, wheeling and cycling improvements across the country.

Amongst improvements are two new bridges crossing over the Mid Calder railway line and Dalry Road leading to Dalry Community Park, community gardens at Sauchiebank and Duff Street and upgrades to the sports pitch and playpark at Dalry Community Park – designs for which were developed in consultation with Dalry Primary School pupils.

The project will also provide a key link in Edinburgh’s active travel network, delivering a four metre-wide pedestrian and cycle path connecting the North Edinburgh Path Network to Fountainbridge alongside new pedestrian crossings and access points.

Between February 20 and March 23 the two-lane section of the West Approach Road, between Westfield Road and Dalry, will close so that safe construction work can begin. A diversion will be in place to help minimise disruption. The section between the Dundee Street ramps and Lothian Road will remain open. Further information on changes to bus services can be found on Lothian Buses’ website.