After years of heavy use, exposure to the elements and limited maintenance, the historic three-arch bridge, spanning Waverley Station and the busy Market Street in Edinburgh’s city centre, required urgent repair and full refurbishment. The structure had significantly deteriorated, posing a considerable risk to the railway below and to pedestrians.
The £17.5m project was procured through the SCAPE Scotland Civil Engineering framework and started on site in June 2018. It has brought together City of Edinburgh Council, Historic Environment Scotland, SCAPE Scotland, Balfour Beatty, and several community and technical partners – all who have a unified goal of preserving and futureproofing the iconic structures, ensuring safety, accessibility, and civic pride for generations to come.
However, the location of the bridge in the city centre and the nature of the works has posed significant technical, logistical and heritage challenges over the last eight years, of which integrated delivery and collaborative planning between all partners have been critical.
The restoration itself is highly complex. The bridge sits above a live railway station, active rail lines and a busy city street, with vehicles and pedestrians constantly moving beneath it. At peak times, up to 150 people were working on the structure simultaneously. Careful planning and coordination between the council, project partners and stakeholders were essential to maintaining access to this complex live site while minimising disruption and ensuring public safety.
The refurbishment is expected to be completed in summer 2026. Its success is largely attributed to the shared expertise, commitment and collaborative values of SCAPE Scotland, Balfour Beatty, the City of Edinburgh Council and the many partners involved in delivering the project.
