Roseburn to Union Canal

Key construction stages and latest updates

Project update 15 November

We are making good progress on installing perforated steel panels over Dalry Bridge and work is expected to be complete by 15 November.

Pedestrian crossing

Work is underway on the pedestrian crossing over the West Approach Road near the Telfer path. Alternate lane closures will be in place.

11 – 22 November, westbound lane closure

21 – 28 November, eastbound lane closure

The eastbound bus stop at Fountainbridge will be closed from 18 November for around 5 days and signs will be in place for bus users.

Street lighting columns

2 – 6  December. Work to install street lighting columns will need two way temprorary lights on the West Approach Road eastbound and night time lane closure of the eastbound carriageway.

Project Update 27 September 2024

We have been working to complete drainage, lighting, kerbing and paving.  Work is also continuing on stairways and ramps which will provide better access to this new walking, wheeling and cycling route and green corridor.

The new bridge over the Mid Calder railway was lifted into position overnight on 10 and 11 August.

Work is ongoing on a new  toucan crossing over the West Approach Road and construction is well underway on a new and improved Dalry Community Park. We expect the project to finish late autumn 2024.

Project update 22 August 2024

Telfer Underpass. To support work on the Roseburn to Union Canal link, we need to close the underpass for three nights at the start and end of September.

  • 2, 3 and 4 September, 7.30pm to 6am
  • 30 September, 1 and 2 October, 7.30pm to 6am

This work is to improve safety as part of the Roseburn to Union Canal project.

Project update August 2024

We will be installing the bridge over the railway line overnight on 10 and 11 August. This will provide a key link between Sauchiebank Gardens and the Duff Street woodland area. The crane to install the bridge will be assembled on Friday 9 August from 6am.

Preparations for the bridge lift will start on Saturday 10 August from 10pm.  The bridge will be lifted into place between around 12am and 3am and the crane will be taken down on Sunday morning.

Project update June 2024

Construction is taking shape with lots of work underway in preparation for the final stages.  We expect to finish in autumn 2024.  This is slightly later than we previously stated.  This is due to other vital work taking place in the area and it taking longer than expected to get plans finalised for the bridge over the Mid Calder railway line.

Work is progressing well on preparing ground levels and contours that will transform the landscape of the project route.  Drainage is also underway in all three sections of the project.

Project update 29 April 2024

We are carrying out improvement work to the park and will be closing the set of steps that provide access to the park from the back of Orwell Terrace. This is a public safety measure to allow us to carry out the work safely. Work starts from Monday 6 May until the reopening of the park which is planned for late summer 2024.

View the alternative walking route to the Telfer underpass and bus stop on the West Approach Road

Project update 30 January 2024

Preparations for the new Mid Calder Bridge over the railway are underway.

  • Work is due to start on the bridge abutments
  • Construction of the steps and ramp access at Duff Street Lane is due to start soon
  • Foundation work on the Mid Calder embankment (90 piles in total) is now complete

Project update 22 November 2023

We installed the new bridge beam last night for the new walking and cycling bridge over Dalry Road which will form part of the Roseburn to Union Canal link.

Project update 7 November 2023

We will be carrying out works to complete the removal of trees near the old bridge supports on the Midcalder railway line. The work will be carried out overnight on Saturday 11 into Sunday 12 November to comply with Network Rail restrictions. We will make every effort to keep noise to a mimimum.

Project update 17 October 2023

We have carried out extensive earthworks to create the new contours of the route, and installed retaining walls and drainage. We have recently completed bored piling work in preparation for the delivery of the Dalry Road Bridge. The next phase of works will see piling and preparations for the new Mid Calder Railway bridge and approaches.

Project update 3 August 2023

Work is progressing well in the Dalry Bridge area. From 7 August, for a period of a few weeks, there will be preparations for the bridge supports. Unfortunately, this will cause some noise and vibration but works will be restricted to weekday working hours of 8 am – 6 pm.

Project update 24 February 2023

Sheet piling work will begin in the Duff Street and Dalry Road bridge area from next week during the 5-week closure of the West Approach Road. This work is disruptive and will inevitably cause noise and vibration. We don’t expect the work to take the full 5-weeks of the West Approach Road closure. All properties next to the area of work have been informed.

Project update 20 February 2023

The two-lane section of the West Approach Road, between Roseburn Street and the Dundee Street flyover, will close on 27 February until 31 March 2023 to allow safe construction work around this area and diversion are in place to help minimise disruption. 

Project update 3 February 2023

Dalry Community Park will close to public access on 6 February. It will be fenced off for the duration of the project so that we can safely start work to improve the area, play equipment, sports pitch and build the new pathway linking to Duff Street and Sauchiebank.

All footpaths will be closed and access to Fountainbridge and the West Approach Road will be via Dalry Road, Orwell Terrace and the Telfer Subway.

Work will start with site clearance and tree felling, including the removal of the sports pitch and play area. This will be followed by earthworks, excavations and filling to create the new contours of the site as well as retaining walls and drainage.

Key construction stages

  • Autumn 2024 -Project complete
  • August 2024 - Install Mid Calder bridge over railway line
  • April 2024 - Start hard landscaping
  • February 2024 - Start soft landscaping
  • February 2024 - Start earth reinforcement and retaining structures to Mid Calder and Dalry Road bridges
  • January 2024 - Piling works completed for Mid Calder bridge
  • October 2023 - Finish road re-alignment and contruction of bi-directional cycle lane on Russell Road
  • September 2023 - Piling works completed for Dalry Road Bridge
  • February 2023 - Site preparations for Dalry Road Bridge start. Tree felling underway.  These will be replaced by almost 5000 young and emi-mature trees.  Dalry Community Park closed to public access to allow work to start on improving the area, play equipment, sports pitch and build the new pathway linking to Duff Street and Sauchiebank.

Download and read the Roseburn to Union Canal newsletters