COBBLESTONE on the Royal Mile have been ripped up in the latest stage of roadworks in the area, leaving the iconic road impassable.
Works on the iconic street in Edinburgh city centre were started in September 2024 and are due to take 10 months with a planned end date of July 2025.
Recently the works have seen the cobbles on the road ripped up and left in a pile with the earth below left exposed.
The works are being carried out to improve roads, pavements and drainage and will cover a large chunk of Lawnmarket, but locals have expressed concerns over whether the cobbles will be retained.
The current removal of the cobbles is taking place near the junction of Johnston Terrace and Lawnmarket with that section of road now impassable.
This is phase two of a four phase plan to improve the roads in the area with phase one finishing in December of last year.
There was a break in the works during the festive period in the hopes of minimising disruption.
Works are carried out in the area every weekday between 7:30am and 5pm creating disruption during these hours.
An image shared to social media yesterday by a local shows the worksite abandoned after these hours.
The road is left fenced off completely with a large pile of cobblestones left in the centre of the street and numerous work vehicles parked alongside it.
The local hoped that the works would see the iconic cobbles replaced saying: “Surely they are going to replace these cobbles leading up to the castle and not just tarmac it?”
A section of the iconic cobbled road, outside of the work area, has already been tarmacked over with a large patch of the black material seemingly covering the cobbles below.
The post has received over 115 likes and more than 60 comments from other locals and social media users agreeing with the sentiment.
The works plan details “the reconstruction of the existing natural stone setts” with local fears that the cobbles will be removed assuaged.
One user joked: “They’re putting in a dual carriageway so tourists can drive their rental cars right up to the castle.”
Another commented: “That’s my entire street, they ripped up the tarmac a few years ago to redo the road and exposed a lovely, cobbled road, for about two days then it was gone again.”
A third said: “They’re selling the cobbles in the castle gift shop.”
Another quipped: “Tram works right up to the doors of Edinburgh Castle. Works expected to be finished in 2075.”
A fifth added: “They’re still doing this? Progress seems to be very slow.”
Transport and environment convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Maintaining and enhancing our streets is a key priority and I’m proud that we’re taking these steps to make improvements in the Lawnmarket area.
“The Old Town is world famous for its setts and cobblestones and we need to preserve these for the future.
“I appreciate these works may cause some disruption for our residents, businesses and visitors so I’d like to thank them for their patience.”
