New park and ride for Edinburgh :: 02/06/2008 :: Airport Parking News

An expanded parking lot could bring problems to Scotland's busiest airport

The roads approaching Scotland’s busiest airport may get busier yet as the Ingliston park-and-ride completed a £2.7 million extension this week. Local residents fear that the more than doubled capacity at the site will result in increased congestion in the area. Airport officials at Edinburgh Airport also warn that the roads near the airport will be under additional strain as a result of the project’s completion.

The current Eastfield Road is the main road approaching the airport. The two-lane road was built in the 1960’s and failed to anticipate the huge growth in Scottish air traffic demand. As a result, the road can barely cope with the increasing traffic demands being placed on it.

The roundabout beside the park-and-ride will soon have signals installed, according to Council officials, who hope the signals will help improve traffic management and facilitate better flow. A spokesperson for the airport disagreed with the move, stating that the expansion will cause traffic to bunch at a busy point.

The Edinburgh Airport spokesperson said: “There is little doubt that the expansion of the park and ride facility will place further strain on what is already an overloaded road network. This further strengthens the case for investment in new roads in the area. While we are committed to increasing the number of our passengers who travel to and from the airport by public transport, good road access for our growing number of passengers continues to be vital.”