Edinburgh's recent tram development is set to cause further chaos with Princes Street, Edinburgh's main retail street set to close for six months.

EDINBURGH’S RECENT tram development is set to cause further chaos with Princes Street, Edinburgh’s main retail street, set to close for six months.

The street closure, which began on Sunday, is due to work to move utility pipes under the Mound junction, so tram lines can be laid.

MSPs voted unanimously for the Edinburgh Tram Bill in March 2006, claiming that the tram line would decrease inner city congestion, entice tourists to visit the city, help local business and be more eco-friendly than travelling by car or bus. Work began on the £512 million project in March of this year.

Edinburgh has already seen rising problems in the early stages of the estimated three year project. There has been an increase in traffic congestion, as both Leith Walk and Princes Street were reduced to one lane.

Local businesses have claimed that their trade has declined by approximately 25% since the tram work began. The government has offered all independent businesses a £4,000 compensation grant, which traders argue does not cover the extreme losses that they are facing.

Tram developers, Transport Initiatives Edinburgh, are planning to fully close Princes Street from January to July 2009 in an attempt to keep the project to the 2011 deadline. This has provoked outrage from shop owners and commuters with the problems already caused by the tram work set to escalate.

It is expected that the complete closure of Princes Street will result in rocketing congestion with traffic being diverted to George Street.

As well as congestion, University of Edinburgh students can also expect irregular bus routes. The tram work is likely to increase commuting time for all inner city workers.

Many business owners are claiming that the Edinburgh trams are creating more problems than the line is set to solve.

The tram service will only operate a limited line from Edinburgh Airport to Newhaven, Leith, so trams will not be a solution for those living outside the city, who continue to face limited public transport to the centre.