Heavy rain caused chaos on Thursday evening for Edinburgh, with drivers facing huge delays and some areas seeing flooding.
Following the Met Office yellow weather warning, which lasted 39 hours, many residents were facing issues. Friday morning saw the rain cease, though some issues remained.
On Thursday night, some one driver was stuck on the bypass for ‘four hours’ after running out of fuel. The Edinburgh City Bypass was closed in both directions at Dreghorn by 8.30pm after the westbound lane closed at 3.50pm.
READ MORE – Edinburgh City Bypass driver ‘run out of fuel’ after being stuck ‘for four hours’
READ MORE – Edinburgh drivers stuck on major road ‘for two hours’ in widespread disruption
Elsewhere in the city, dramatic images showed a local park submerged in water. Edinburgh Council closed West Princes Street Gardens and Inch Park until further notice.
Locals were urged to take caution as the Water of Leith burst its banks in some areas. Flood gates at Baird Drive and Rocheid Colonies were being closed with localised flooding reported in Stockbridge, Rocheid path, Bonnington, Katesmill, and Bogsmill.
The Council wrote: “Due to flooding both West Princes Street Gardens and Inch Park are closed until further notice. A Met Office yellow weather warning for rain is in place covering Edinburgh until the early hours of Friday morning.”
07:32Lee Dalgetty
East Lothian Council distribute sand bags and “precautionary measures”
Residents in East Lothian were urged to avoid the River Esk, as the flood response group “continue to monitor the situation”.
Posting to X/Twitter, East Lothian Council said: “The multi-agency flood response group will continue to monitor the situation closely following the impact of heavy rain.
“Precautionary measures have been put in place in Musselburgh. The public are urged to stay away from the riverbank until levels drop.”
07:27Lee Dalgetty
Police Scotland confirm Edinburgh City Bypass “fully reopened”
Posting to X/Twitter, Police Scotland said: “The A720, Edinburgh Bypass, has fully reopened following flooding near Dreghorn yesterday. Drivers are thanked for their patience while this was cleared.”
07:18Lee Dalgetty
Road maintenance continues as teams clear standing water on city bypass
Crews continued to clear standing water on the Edinburgh City Bypass on Friday morning.
BEAR SE Trunk Roads said: “A720 Update 05.50am – The Edinburgh bypass between Dreghorn & Lothianburn is now reopen.
“The A720 Eastbound is affected by flooding on approach to Sheriffhall. Lanes 1, 2 and 3 are closed, Lane 4 is open. Our team is on the scene, clearing some of the standing water.”
07:15Lee Dalgetty
Edinburgh City Bypass: All lanes at Sheriffhall reopen
Traffic Scotland updated drivers at around 6.45am, to alert them that all lanes at Sheriffhall on the city bypass had reopened.
Posting to X/Twitter, they said: “CLEAR 06:44 A720 – Sheriffhall All lanes are now OPEN.
“Flooding has now been cleared.”
07:12Lee Dalgetty
Edinburgh Council warns residents to ‘check before travelling’
As the city recovers from heavy rain, Edinburgh Council urged residents to “check before travelling”
Taking to X/Twitter, they said: “We’ve experienced heavy rain and localised flooding over the last 24 hours. Disruption and delays are likely.
“Check online before you travel today”
07:10Lee Dalgetty
Edinburgh road flooded as residents highlight ‘major issues’
Ellen’s Glen Road in the south of the city was flooded on Thursday night following the rain.
One concerned resident said there are “major issues” on the road. Martin Byers told us: “Last year trees were cut down in the Glen and since then any time there has been rain there has been major flooding issues.
“It completely cuts off people cutting down the Glen to get to Gilberston Road.”
