(Image: City of Edinburgh Council)
Edinburgh residents have criticised an "unacceptable” lack of urgency after it emerged that a footbridge over the Water of Leith may not reopen until 2028.
New Town and Broughton Community Council (NTBCC) and Leith Central Community Council (LCCC) have sent a joint letter to City of Edinburgh Council officials, urging them to take urgent action to repair or replace St Mark’s Footbridge, which closed in June 2026 after structural defects were identified.
The bridge, also known as Powderhall Footbridge No. 2, connects Broughton Road and Warriston Road via the St Mark’s Path in the north of the capital.
“This vital active travel link normally connects some of the most densely populated communities in Scotland to the North Edinburgh path network,” the community councils’ letter, written by Mike Birch and Harald Tobermann, states.
“It serves as an essential, high-volume artery for daily commuters, families, school children and visitors to Warriston Crematorium.
The bridge crosses the Water of Leith, connecting Warriston Road and Broughton Road. (Image: City of Edinburgh Council)
“We are seeking immediate, accelerated, and solution-focussed progress from the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC). Specifically, we urge CEC to commission and publish an independent engineering report by early December.”
According to a briefing note prepared by council officers in mid-October, the footbridge was designed to have a lifespan of 120 years.
However, “cracking within the upper main horizontal structural member (known as the top chord)” was identified, leading to its closure.
A replacement bridge is expected to cost £2.2 million.
“If funding becomes available in the new financial year, i.e., April 2027, then realistically, a new bridge would not be installed and open until at least early 2028,” the briefing document explains.
“A 120-year design life does not mean that every component of the footbridge is expected to last for 120 years,” the report adds.
“Some individual components, such as decking, are expected to require replacement during the design life of the footbridge.
“The current defects have developed within the design life, despite being inspected and maintained in accordance with the relevant DMRB standards and criteria.”
Cracks were first identified during a principal inspection in 2017, as well as subsequent general inspections in 2019 and 2022.
An impartial review of the cracks by engineering firm Mott MacDonald found that the situation had further deteriorated.
“Significant splitting was identified at several joints in the top chord of the longest span of the footbridge which are critical to the stability of the footbridge,” the council report states.
“A structural failure could occur at any time, triggered by uncontrolled risks for example a heavy crowd or extreme weather conditions.”
The bridge was closed in June 2026. (Image: City of Edinburgh Council)
Mr Birch and Mr Tobermann also criticised the lack of diversion signage on the path, 123 days after the bridge closed.
“Our communities are completely dismayed by the apparent absence of genuine urgency from CEC,” they wrote.
“A vague timeline pointing towards a distant re-opening in 2028 is entirely unacceptable for an active travel route of this importance,” the letter adds.
“Allowing a primary pedestrian and cycling artery to remain severed for years without exhausting every interim engineering intervention fundamentally flies in the face of CEC’s stated commitments for net-zero, active travel, and community wellbeing.
“This is in stark contrast to the immediate urgency with which the Council responds to motor vehicle road closures.”
Mr Birch and Mr Tobermann wrote: “We urge you to intervene and reject the passive 2028 timeline, and drive forward a pragmatic, expedited engineering solution for the St Mark's Footbridge.
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“In addition, CEC must immediately establish a fully signed, accessible diversion route for the duration of the closure.”
Commenting on the report, Lib Dem councillor for Leith Walk Jack Caldwell wrote on Bluesky:
“The signs are not immediately optimistic. A replacement bridge will cost over £2m. The projected reopening is 2028.
“Cllr Dijkstra-Downie, Cllr Osler, and I are determined to make this bridge a top priority in the city chambers,” he added.