Edinburgh's North Bridge to fully reopen after eight years of restrictions

North Bridge is finally set to fully reopen after eight years of work, with all four traffic lanes and both pavements free to use.

The opening comes just in time for the summer festivals, adding capacity for travel between the old and new towns.

The route will reopen by 7pm on Friday, July 31, marking a huge milestone.

Transport convener and Labour councillor Stephen Jenkinson said the restoration was ‘one of the most ambitious and complex projects’ the council had ever undertaken.

He continued: “I’m conscious that this has taken longer, and cost more than we initially anticipated.

“Our residents, businesses and visitors have my sincere thanks for their patience during this time.

“However, I’m incredibly proud that we’ve successfully preserved and enhanced this cornerstone of Edinburgh’s history, and key transport corridor, for future generations of our city.

“To see the bridge back to its former glory, with the new facade shining in the summer sun, is something we can all celebrate together.”

The crossing’s full reopening will come as a relief to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and bus commuters, all of whom faced a shortage of space at peak hours.

Works on the bridge spiralled in cost and timelines as more and more issues were discovered during the bridge’s first renovation in almost a century.

But the bridge’s reopening marks the restoration of a major landmark, the architecture of which some Edinburgh residents will not have fully witnessed during their time in the city.

Refurbishment works, which started in 2018, were expected to last two years and cost around £22.3m.

But discovery of a litany of issues with the interior of the bridge pushed costs and timelines up, with intensive works and long-term closures of parts of the bridge beginning in 2021.

Since then, drivers have been limited to two traffic lanes, with the carriageway becoming one way during parts of the project and occasionally closing entirely.

Corrosion at levels worse than were expected were found in the structure, and the pandemic contributed significantly to delays.

The final cost of the refurbishment works is thought to land around £85m.

The current North Bridge opened in 1897 to replace a 1722-vintage bridge with lower landings on the same site, as part of major renovation works at Waverley Station.

Work to span the 160-metre gap was completed in three years to a design by Sir William Arroll & Co, a firm which also designed the Forth rail bridge.

According to historical records, a time capsule is thought to have been interred in North Bridge at its construction, but its location inside is currently unknown.

Another one was added at a commemoration in September 2025, including a letter from council leader and Labour councillor Jane Meagher and Lord Provost Robert Aldridge.

Also inside was a paintbrush used by Cllr Jenkinson to add finishing touches to the facade of the bridge.

Along with the structural works, statues, plaques and other elements have been freshened up, and large areas of the bridge have been repainted.

The layout of the bridge will be mostly the same as to how it was before works got underway, but bus stops in the middle of the bridge in each direction have been eliminated.

Rory McFadden, project director at Balfour Beatty, said: “The reopening of North Bridge to both traffic and pedestrians marks a major milestone in this complex restoration project and is a significant step towards returning this iconic structure to the heart of Edinburgh’s transport network.

“While there is still work to complete in the months ahead, it will be incredibly rewarding to see residents, visitors and businesses once again utilising the bridge and benefitting from this vital transport link.”

Cllr Meagher said at a full council meeting in June that it was ‘fantastic’ to see the bridge returned to its former glory.

She added: “After years of painstaking work, the North Bridge will completely reopen to traffic and pedestrians by the end of July, ahead of festival season getting underway.

“This has been a complex and difficult project, but I hope you’ll agree it has been worth it.”