Edinburgh Council has announced that their contractor Balfour Beatty has commenced works on the first phase of the West Edinburgh Link, which are expected to last until Summer 2026.
The West Edinburgh Link (WEL) will transform provision for cycling, walking, and accessibility around one of Scotland’s key business parks, whilst better connecting local communities to places of work, retail, leisure, and education.
This phase includes
- Torwood path – widening, surfacing and lighting
- South Gyle Access (between Bankhead Drive and Flassches yard) – new segregated cycleway. Shared use crossing at the entrance to Forrester High School
- Bankhead Drive / South Gyle Access Junction – new and improved pedestrian and cycle crossings
- Bankhead Avenue (between Bankhead Drive and Edinburgh College/Napier University entrance) – new segregated cycleway, side road crossing and zebra crossing
Future phases will extend the link along Wester Hailes road, through Clovenstone, and connecting to the Water of Leith through Colinton.
The WEL will also link up with key active travel routes to the city centre, including Quiet Route 8, the Union Canal and the Water of Leith Path.
Full details on phase one and the wider project are available on the Council’s website.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said:
It’s brilliant to see this new work getting underway in the west of the city.
Properly connecting our communities and encouraging our residents to travel in more sustainable and healthy ways remain key priorities for us. WEL is an important project under our ambitious City Mobility Plan as we keep Edinburgh moving.
From revitalising active travel provision on the Torwood Path to improving access to Edinburgh College at Sighthill, alongside a host of other improvements, I’ve no doubt that local people will experience real benefits once this transformational project is complete.
