First look at new Edinburgh 'Pride Bridge' revamp including amphitheatre venue

Edinburgh's popular 'Pride Bridge' is earmarked for a huge refurbishment creating a thriving new community space - complete with amphitheatre seating and rainbow colours.

Leith’s beloved LGBT landmark stretches over the Hawthornvale Path, connecting North Fort Street and Lindsay Road.

The bridge was painted in rainbow colours in 2021, leading to it being known as the 'Rainbow' or 'Pride' bridge . The same year it was closed to the public in 2021 following concerns about its structural integrity.

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However, councillors announced earlier this year £232,700 in funding had been secured from the Sustrans Places for Everyone Fund, setting refurbishment in motion.

A planning application has been submitted which seeks permission to revamp the bridge into a new community space.

New images for the project show an eye-catching space with even more colour than the previous design. A new bridge deck will be installed to correct the previous structural issues.

An amphitheatre will be added, complete with tiered seating between Lindsay Road Bridge and the Hawthornvale Path below, next to the nearby sports court.

The 'Pride' colour scheme will be carried through to all the proposals, including the new bridge parapets, the road surfacing, and the seating areas.

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Traffic calming measures will be taken at the North Fort Street junction, complete with rainbow-painted bollards and dedicated pedestrian crossings.

Local LGBT youth were consulted during the project’s early stages, showing that queer young people requested that the colour scheme be updated to include the Progress Pride colours, which includes colours to represent trans, nonbinary, intersex, and people of colour. The latest plans reflect this change.

The bridge was first erected in the 18th century to carry vehicular traffic over the North Leith branch of the Caledonian Railway.

It closed to motorised vehicles in 1998 but has since served as an important cycling, wheeling, and walking path.

The full plans can be found on the Council's planning application portal.

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