Key Points
- Drivers in Edinburgh face months of travel chaos due to extensive roadworks closing key routes across Tollcross, Gorgie, and other areas.
- Works in Tollcross and Gorgie are among the most disruptive, with closures expected to last several months.
- City-wide infrastructure upgrades are set to impact major roads, bus lanes, and junctions, forcing lengthy diversions.
- Local authorities urge residents and commuters to plan ahead amid warnings of severe congestion.
- Businesses in affected zones express concerns over lost trade and access difficulties.
- Public transport users face knock-on effects, including bus route alterations and delays.
- Emergency services have mapped alternative routes to ensure rapid response times.
- Council officials promise phased works to minimise disruption, but critics question timelines.
- Similar schemes in nearby areas like Haymarket and Leith have already caused prolonged delays.
- Pedestrian and cyclist paths remain largely unaffected, with some enhancements planned.
Edinburgh (Edinburgh Daily News) January 26, 2026 – Drivers in Edinburgh are facing months of travel chaos as roadworks close several key routes across the city, with works in Tollcross and Gorgie set to cause the most significant disruption. The closures form part of a broader £100 million-plus programme of essential resurfacing, junction improvements, and utility upgrades, prompting warnings from the City of Edinburgh Council for residents to brace for delays stretching into spring. Commuters have been advised to avoid affected areas where possible, use public transport, or follow signed diversions amid fears of gridlock on alternative routes.
What Are the Main Road Closures Scheduled?
The Tollcross area will see Fountainbridge closed from 27 January for approximately 12 weeks to allow for carriageway resurfacing and the renewal of traffic signals. As reported by Chris Pollard of the Edinburgh Evening News, the works will block access to this busy arterial road, impacting traffic between the West End and city centre.
Gorgie Road faces phased closures starting early February, with the section from Tynecastle Stadium to Gorgie Market lasting up to eight weeks for similar resurfacing efforts. According to the same report, these interventions target pothole repairs and drainage improvements long overdue after years of heavy use.
Further afield, the A8 corridor near Haymarket will experience overnight and weekend shutdowns through March, as detailed in council notices covered by local outlet Edinburgh Live. Lothian Buses have already adjusted routes 20 and 26, with passengers directed to temporary stops. In Leith, Constitution Street closures for gas main replacements, reported by STV News, will persist until mid-April, affecting HGVs and forcing them onto the A199 diversion.
Why Is the City Implementing These Disruptive Works Now?
Edinburgh’s roads have suffered from chronic underinvestment, with over 5,000 pothole reports logged in 2025 alone, according to council data cited by The Scotsman. As stated by Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener, in an Edinburgh Evening News interview with Chris Pollard:
“These essential works will deliver safer, smoother roads for years to come, but we appreciate the short-term pain for long-term gain.”
The timing aligns with post-holiday lulls in tourism and a push to complete upgrades before the 2026 Festival season ramps up.
Funding stems from a mix of Scottish Government grants and council capital budgets, totalling £127 million for surface transport in 2025-26. SNP-led administration defends the aggressive schedule, noting that delaying repairs exacerbates winter damage from freeze-thaw cycles. However, as noted by Lib Dem transport spokesperson Scott Douglas in The Herald:
“Residents deserve better coordination; overlapping works are turning neighbourhoods into no-go zones.”
Utility companies like Scottish Gas Networks are coordinating with the council, but overlaps remain inevitable given the scale. SGN’s project manager, Fiona McLeod, told BBC Scotland:
“Our pipe upgrades prevent future leaks, but we’re working nights where possible to ease daytime chaos.”
How Will These Closures Affect Daily Commuters and Businesses?
Motorists should expect journey times to double on key routes, with sat-navs already updating for Tollcross diversions via Lothian Road and Home Street. The AA has warned of peak-hour bottlenecks spilling onto the M8, as per motoring editor Simon Osborne’s analysis in Edinburgh Live. Public apps like Waze report average delays of 25 minutes already building near Gorgie.
Business owners in Tollcross, home to independent shops and eateries, fear revenue drops akin to those during 2024’s tram works. Shopkeeper Aisha Khan told Chris Pollard of the Edinburgh Evening News:
“Deliveries are a nightmare now; if closures drag on, some of us won’t survive.”
Gorgie’s Tynecastle Retail Park faces similar access curbs, with manager David Reilly warning of staff shortages due to unreliable travel times.
Public transport mitigates some pain, but Lothian Buses’ operations director Rob Lea stated to STV News:
“Routes are rerouted, but frequency holds; passengers, check our app for live updates.”
Cycling remains optimal, with protected lanes on Gorgie Road staying open.
What Diversion Routes and Mitigation Measures Are in Place?
The council has installed 20 temporary signs and launched an online tracker at edinburgh.gov.uk/roadworks. Primary diversions funnel Tollcross traffic west via Dalry Road, while Gorgie diverts north to the A71. Police Scotland’s road policing unit, as per Inspector Gary Ritchie in a Daily Record update, has prepositioned traffic officers for peak enforcement.
Night works between 20:00 and 06:00 will handle noisier tasks, and 24/7 closures limited to weekends. Free parking expansions at Napier Park and Ride aim to cut city-centre vehicles by 15%. Trams remain unaffected, running to full timetable.
Which Areas Beyond Tollcross and Gorgie Face Disruptions?
Haymarket’s West Approach closes intermittently for smart junction upgrades, as covered by EEN’s Amy Walker:
“Signals will cut emissions by prioritising buses, but expect queues back to Murrayfield.”
Leith’s links see Foot of the Walk restricted from 3 February for footpath widening.
Newhaven’s Hawthornvale closes fully for eight weeks from late February, impacting Port of Leith traffic. South Queensferry’s A90 slip roads face seasonal checks into March. Even peripheral spots like Colinton Road see utility digs.
What Do Residents and Experts Say About the Disruptions?
Resident backlash brews on social media, with #EdinburghRoadHell trending locally. Tollcross resident Moira Henderson told BBC Radio Scotland: “It’s impossible to get to work; why not stagger everything?” Business Edinburgh’s chief executive John McMillan urged in The Scotsman:
“Council must compensate firms for proven losses, as in Glasgow’s model.”
Transport expert Professor David Begg, quoted by The Herald: “Edinburgh’s roads are Victorian-era; upgrades are overdue, but public buy-in requires crystal-clear timelines.” Council leader Cllr Claire Miller responded:
“We’re ahead on 80% of projects; weather permitting, most wrap by May.”
When Will Normal Traffic Flow Resume?
Core Tollcross works target completion by 20 April, Gorgie by mid-March. Full programme spans to June, weather-dependent. Monitoring dashboards promise weekly updates, with penalties for contractors exceeding 10% overrun.
How Can Drivers Best Navigate the Chaos?
Use official apps like City of Edinburgh Council’s tracker or TfE Live. Opt for trams (£1.80 single), buses, or bikes via Santander Cycles. Car clubs like Zipcar offer flexible access without parking woes. Allow extra 30-60 minutes for cross-city trips.
In total, these works underscore Edinburgh’s infrastructure crunch, balancing renewal against resident resilience. As the city adapts, coordination emerges as the pivotal test for 2026 mobility.
