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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| City tram work plans reconsidered | City tram work plans reconsidered |
| (1 day later) | |
| Plans to close part of Edinburgh's Princes Street for tram works are being reconsidered after an urgent meeting. | Plans to close part of Edinburgh's Princes Street for tram works are being reconsidered after an urgent meeting. |
| Officials have proposed that one lane remains open until the end of the year. | Officials have proposed that one lane remains open until the end of the year. |
| The 90-minute summit brought together council officials, tram developers, the police and bus managers to discuss the roadworks at The Mound. | The 90-minute summit brought together council officials, tram developers, the police and bus managers to discuss the roadworks at The Mound. |
| The meeting was called after the tram utility works caused gridlock on Wednesday, when Princes Street was closed to traffic in both directions. | The meeting was called after the tram utility works caused gridlock on Wednesday, when Princes Street was closed to traffic in both directions. |
| The road was reopened westbound following the chaos. | The road was reopened westbound following the chaos. |
| It had been planned to close Princes Street to traffic again on Sunday for six months after traffic lights were fixed. | It had been planned to close Princes Street to traffic again on Sunday for six months after traffic lights were fixed. |
| However, under the new proposals one lane would remain open for the rest of this year. | However, under the new proposals one lane would remain open for the rest of this year. |
| I can assure drivers and travellers that actions have been taken to ensure we do everything we can to stop this happening again Jenny DaweEdinburgh City Council | I can assure drivers and travellers that actions have been taken to ensure we do everything we can to stop this happening again Jenny DaweEdinburgh City Council |
| Work to lay tram tracks along Princes Street is due to begin in January 2009, which would cause the major thoroughfare to be closed to traffic in both directions for five months. | Work to lay tram tracks along Princes Street is due to begin in January 2009, which would cause the major thoroughfare to be closed to traffic in both directions for five months. |
| Monday's meeting also came up with plans for council parking attendants to target "traffic hotspots", including dealing with illegal loading and unloading. | Monday's meeting also came up with plans for council parking attendants to target "traffic hotspots", including dealing with illegal loading and unloading. |
| Diversion signs surrounding the works will be upgraded, and consideration will be given to new temporary park-and-ride sites. | Diversion signs surrounding the works will be upgraded, and consideration will be given to new temporary park-and-ride sites. |
| Edinburgh City Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "This is the biggest construction project Scotland has ever seen, and we apologise again for the delays last Wednesday. | Edinburgh City Council leader Jenny Dawe said: "This is the biggest construction project Scotland has ever seen, and we apologise again for the delays last Wednesday. |
| "I can assure drivers and travellers that actions have been taken to ensure we do everything we can to stop this happening again. | "I can assure drivers and travellers that actions have been taken to ensure we do everything we can to stop this happening again. |
| "I organised a meeting of all the key parties on Monday and we have agreed yet more improvements to ensure we remain a pleasant city to travel to and visit. | "I organised a meeting of all the key parties on Monday and we have agreed yet more improvements to ensure we remain a pleasant city to travel to and visit. |
| "This will ensure that future phases run as smoothly as the closures of Shandwick Place and Haymarket to traffic." | "This will ensure that future phases run as smoothly as the closures of Shandwick Place and Haymarket to traffic." |
| A spokesman for Tie said: "Tie found the meeting constructive and welcomes the measures Edinburgh City Council put forward to assist the project in the complex traffic management task it faces in the city centre. | |
| "It was helpful to get an opportunity to examine the lessons learned last week and discuss how to ensure they don't happen again." | |
| Willie Gallagher, chief executive of tram developers Tie, was forced to make a public apology following Wednesday's debacle. | Willie Gallagher, chief executive of tram developers Tie, was forced to make a public apology following Wednesday's debacle. |
| On Friday, Edinburgh City Council's deputy leader, Steve Cardownie, called for Mr Gallagher to resign. | On Friday, Edinburgh City Council's deputy leader, Steve Cardownie, called for Mr Gallagher to resign. |