Edinburgh North Bridge reopens after eight‑year renovation

Edinburgh’s historic North Bridge fully reopened on 31 July, restoring all four traffic lanes and both pedestrian pavements. The reopening coincides with the city’s summer festivals and ends a series of lane reductions and one‑way restrictions that have been in place since the works began in 2018.

Transport convener and Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson described the project as “one of the most ambitious and complex” the council has undertaken, noting the delays and cost overruns caused by unexpected corrosion and pandemic‑related disruptions. The refurbishment, originally budgeted at about £22 million and slated for two years, ultimately cost around £85 million and took eight years to complete.

The bridge, originally opened in 1897 to replace a 1722 structure, was designed by Sir William Arrol & Co, the same firm that built the Forth Rail Bridge. Its restoration preserves a key transport corridor linking Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns and is expected to ease congestion for drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and bus users.