Statement from the Council, 12/3/13:
It is intended to close the full length of North Meadow Walk for the duration of the works (approx 9 weeks from May to end of June). Pedestrian access across NMW will still be possible at Lauriston Gardens, Chalmers Street, Middle Meadow Walk, George Square and Boroughloch.
From the west, pedestrians will be signed via Melville Drive and Jawbone walk in order to access Middle Meadow Walk. Cyclists will be signed via Melville Drive and Middle Meadow Walk.
From the east pedestrians will be signed either along the footpath that runs along side the tennis courts and children's playground or via Meadow Lane and the George Square access. Cyclists will be signed via Melville Drive/Melville Terrace or via Meadow Lane and the George Square access.
The contractor will also be instructed that access should be maintained for the Meadows festival at the end of May
What FoMBL says:
City of Edinburgh Council Transport Department has drawn up plans for the improvement of North Meadow Walk. The proposals are to bring the path up to the same standard as Middle Meadow Walk. A width of 5 metres along its full length would make more space for all the pedestrians and cyclists who use it. (The path is currently between 3.5 and 4.5 metres wide.) There is an expectation that there will be even more people using this path as improvements are made to the approaches to the Meadows from the Union Canal (National Cycle Route 75), and from the Innocent Railway Path (National Cycle Route 1) over the next couple of years. The current surface is poor and very much in need of renewal. The present part allocated to cyclists is so narrow that it is impossible for two cyclists to pass in opposite directions without moving on to the pedestrian area. The cycle strip at the west end of the path is particularly in need of repair as some of it is unusable and the drainage is very poor. Funding of £500,000 has been provided by the government via SUSTRANS (sustainable transport).
We had some concerns about the original plans because of possible damage to the trees in particular. As a result of representations from FoMBL and other organisations, the plans have been revised. The new plans take much more effort to avoid damage to the trees. The plans accessible from the links below are the latest version. A Council Spokesperson said "All being well we hope to undertake the works over May and June, obviously taking cognisance of the various events taking place during then."
See the plans: Western Section Eastern Section Cross Sections