Slateford Aqueduct Path
Slateford Aqueduct Path
Edinburgh,
Scotland
2020
Client
Scottish Canals
This project is for a new raised public route alongside the historic Slateford Aqueduct - which improves active travel along the Union Canal by alleviating traffic from the towpath and introducing a safe, accessible connection between canal and street levels.
Prior to the advent of motorised barges in the Industrial Revolution, towpaths were used to manually haul cargo along a network of inland canal routes. More recently, towing has become obsolete, and many narrow canalside routes have been converted to footpaths with little or no edge protection into the water.
Two proposals have been developed as part of this feasibility study for Scottish Canals: a direct, parallel route along to the Union Canal; and a meandering ramped walkway. Connections and routes are paramount to both proposals - a key consideration is manouvering existing pedestrian and cyclist movement away from the narrow and unsafe paths along the aqueduct.
Partner
Structural engineer
Arcadis