Sewer work to close Edinburgh city centre road for three months

A major city centre road in Edinburgh is to partially close for three months while a £3m sewer upgrade is completed.

Scottish Water said it expected Waterloo Place to be shut off to westbound traffic between Calton Hill and Leith Street for about 11 weeks from 7 September.

The utility company said work on a 130-year-old cast-iron main alongside other modernisation improvements was "complex but essential".

It means commuters travelling into the centre of Edinburgh from the east of the city could face further disruption, with the continued closure of Princes Street following a fire last month.

Traffic travelling westbound will be diverted away from the area via London Road and Leith Street.

Temporary bus stops will also be installed for those heading eastbound.

Scottish Water said a "collapsed section of sewer" had been discovered under the street during a routine inspection.

The work will involve replacing about 80ft (25m) of piping, strengthening an existing manhole and the surrounding ground and installing a new section of sewer.

They said the affected piping ran close to other services underground, forcing the use of "specialist equipment".

A spokesperson said: "By carrying out these repairs we can reduce the risk of sewer flooding and protect homes, business and local infrastructure from potential future damage.

"While we appreciate the work is in a city centre location, we are using specialist techniques to minimise disruption and avoid digging up the entire length of road.

"Completing these repairs now will help ensure the network continues to reliably serve the city for many years to come."

A section of Princes Street remains closed following the blaze at the former Debenhams store on 9 July.

Traffic, including bus services, has been diverted onto George Street, while trams are running only between Edinburgh Airport and Shandwick Place.

City of Edinburgh Council said they expected the closure to last at least three weeks, but work to make the site secure was subject to weather conditions.