Princes Street in Edinburgh has been fully reopened to traffic in time for Christmas.

One of Edinburgh’s busiest shopping streets had been closed due to work carried out for the new tram system.

But over the weekend businesses on Princes Street were given an extra boost to their Christmas trading as the street opened to buses and bicycles for one of Edinburgh’s busiest times of the year.

Edinburgh City Council has also announced traffic management arrangements at the east end of the street will be relaxed, as drivers will now be directed through St Andrew Square and Princes Street, rather than the diversion through the new town.

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St David Street recently underwent resurfacing in preparation for the reopening.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: "The full reopening of Princes Street is a major milestone for the project and will help traffic to flow more smoothly over Christmas and New Year.

"Christmas is an extremely important part of the year for businesses and the Council, along with traders, are looking at ways to maximise footfall all across the city centre.

"I would like to thank road users and business owners once again for their patience while these diversions were in place."

The move by the Council is being done in line with its Alive After Five initiative, which will see shops open later and city centre parking charges dropped between 3 December 2012 and 5 January 2013.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: "With the crucial festive period round the corner this is a timely boost for retailers in the east end of the city and will see improved public transport services and overall help reduce delays.

"Coming hard on the heels of my recent visit to the Edinburgh Airport stop and yesterday's meeting with all of the key partners involved in delivering the project, this is further, encouraging evidence of the significant progress being made."

(IT)