Festival Fringe traffic management
Temporary changes to traffic management around the George Square area will be in place throughout the set up and duration of the Festival Fringe.
The University plays an integral role in supporting the Festival Fringe with many of our buildings and outside areas used as venues. It is a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrancy of the University and the city to the world.
This does mean that there is some disruption to normal service during the summer months and this year there will be quite significant changes made to traffic management around the George Square area.
In consultation with our Health and Safety experts and the City of Edinburgh Council, the University will be implementing the following:
One-way system: 27 June - 30 July, 27 August - 4 September
- For the whole of Crichton Street, George Square, George Square Lane beyond the South West corner of the Square, and onto the first 30m or so of Buccleuch Place. A mini-roundabout/U-Turn point installed on Buccleuch Place, and all appropriate signage.
- Traffic will be permitted to enter Charles Street and Charles Street Lane and these sections of road will remain two-way.
- Exit from Charles Street will be strictly “No Left Turn”/”Right Turn Only” in able to comply with the one-way system.
- Exit from George Square Lane in the North West corner of the Square will be strictly “No Left Turn”/”Right Turn Only” to comply with the one-way system.
- The one-way system will be implemented from 27 June – 30 July then again from 27 August – 4 September.
Road closure: 31 July - 26 August
- The proposal for 2019 is to again pedestrianise the area across the top (North) of George Square for the duration of the Fringe and preview days (31stJuly to 26th August)
- Between 03:00 and 10:00 daily access will be available to Charles Street and Charles Street Lane, with the existing restrictions.
- The area of road between the Crichton Street/Potterrow junction and the George Square/Charles Street junction will be a closed/restricted route between 10:00 and 03:00 daily.
- This area will be manned by Council/Police sanctioned traffic management personnel who will decide on whether vehicles arriving between 10:00 and 03:00 will be allowed access to Charles Street, Charles Street Lane or the laybys on Crichton Street for deliveries if available.
- No vehicles (except emergency vehicles) will be allowed entry to the North side of George Square. Cyclists will be required to dismount when moving through the North George Square area.
- Taxis will be prohibited from entering Crichton Street and will be encouraged to drop/off and pick up on the West side of George Square where there is ample room to turn around (North West Corner).
- The one-way scheme would be removed for the period of the Fringe and reinstated for the get-out period from 27 August to 4 September.