RJ McLeod

Gilmerton – Shawfair Cycleway, Edinburgh

Client: Sustrans
Value: £1.54M
Engineer: Sustrans
Completed: 2018

The contract was for the construction of a 3km shared-use cyclepath on a former railway line, to create a traffic-free route to link the communities of Lasswade, Gilmerton, Danderhall and Shawfair. It included earthworks, repair of 3 bridges, installation of 2 no. Ekki hardwood timber footbridges, construction of access ramp and installation of drainage, streetlighting, fencing, signage and landscaping works

Key Issues:
• The presence of invasive species (Giant Hogweed) infested soils necessitated the use of Hy-Tex C3 Root Barrier and 1m-deep capping layer
• Working within a narrow and long linear corridor within old railway embankment with restricted access points to site meant programming of works was critical to ensure timescales were adhered to

Principal Elements included:
Earthworks 26,000m3
Filter drains 2,600m
Fencing 2,400m
Hy-Tex C3 Root Barrier 3,000m2
Lighting columns 89 no.
Street lighting duct 3,200m

RJ McLeod