North Bridge vandalised with red spray paint less than 24 hours after reopening

After eight years of restoration works, all four lanes of traffic were in use again on Friday evening, while the pavements opened earlier in the week.

But by Saturday afternoon, the fresh blue and gold paint on the bridge had already been vandalised with red graffiti.

Images show several red symbols sprayed on to at least two sections of the paintwork on the inside of the bridge, next to the pavement.

The 130-year-old bridge had been painstakingly repainted in its original Victorian colours, gold, red, and blue, as part of the restoration works.

Edinburgh council has a responsibility to remove graffiti on council-owned structures and has been asked whether the vandalism was removed by street cleansing teams over the weekend.

Speaking on Friday, Edinburgh council’s Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve reached this key milestone in the project. This reopening is all the more welcome given the busy time of year, and the wider travel disruption we’re currently experiencing as a result of the fire on Princes Street.

“Make no mistake, this has been one of the most complex and ambitious projects the Council has ever undertaken. When work first began, some areas of the bridge hadn’t seen the light of day in over a century, and few could’ve imagined the scale of the challenge we faced.

“I’m conscious that this has taken longer, and cost more than we initially anticipated. Our residents, businesses and visitors have my sincere thanks for their patience during this time.

“However, I’m incredibly proud that we’ve successfully preserved and enhanced this cornerstone of Edinburgh’s history, and key transport corridor, for future generations of our city.

To see the bridge back to its former glory, with the new façade shining in the summer sun, is something we can all celebrate together.”

Work on the Category A Listed North Bridge began in 2018 and has included grit blasting and repainting all the structural steelwork, restoring and hand finishing the cast iron façade, and installing a permanent access platform for future monitoring and care of the bridge.

During the eight years of works major travel restrictions where in place on the key route, which connects South Bridge and Old Town with the New Town.

Pedestrians have also been affected, with sections of the pavement having been closed while works were carried out at street level.

Edinburgh council ensured all street levels works were completed in time for the beginning of festival season, with the final completion of the project expected later this year.