Edinburgh's York Place has reopened to traffic today (6 September), four months ahead of the revised programme.

Bus services will return to the area on from Sunday 8 September.

Edinburgh Council has said the completion of the track and road works mean a vast majority of the tram infrastructure is now in place between Princes Street and the east end of York Place.

Underground cables will be pulled through already installed ducts under the street during a series of overnight shifts and work on the tram stop will continue. These planned works will be localised but may occasionally impact on traffic flows until the beginning of the tram's testing and commissioning phase.

Transport Convener Lesley Hinds said: "The city centre has come a long way in twelve months with Princes Street opening, St Andrew Square fully accessible, overhead wires installed throughout the city centre and York Place reopened.

"Our target remains to have a service up and running by summer next year but we'll bring this date forward if we can. However, there is still some construction work to be completed and, following that, a major programme of testing, commissioning and driver training.


"We are now in final stages of the tram project construction phase and while this is a relief, it's also an opportunity for our city. We want to develop a new approach where transport options are fully integrated – a system that will benefit residents and visitors whilst ensuring that Edinburgh is well positioned in the eyes of potential investors who can create jobs for residents."

Transport Minister Keith Brown added: "I am pleased to see progress on the project and the opening of the east end of Edinburgh for residents and businesses. This is a significant milestone with Haymarket and the West End also set to re-open during the autumn of this year.

"Once the construction works are complete the emphasis will quickly move to ensuring that the appropriate tests, checks and driver training are run as quickly and effectively as possible so that businesses, residents and visitors can really start to plan ahead with confidence."

York Place will be open for use to all traffic via three new traffic signal controlled junctions with North St Andrew Street, Elder Street and Broughton Street. Buses will return to their previous routes and access to and from the bus station will be available from the east and the west via the Elder Street junction. Access to the multi-storey car parking for St James Centre/John Lewis and surrounding businesses will also be available from York Place via Elder Street.

The tram track sections on York Place are for tram use only and these areas will not be available for general traffic use.

Elsewhere, work is continuing in the city's West End area from Shandwick Place to Haymarket with roads expected to open over the coming weeks with overall completion of the West End construction works in Autumn 2013.

(JP/MH)