Cross East Lothian Active Freeway

Being a large interchange with a focus on motorised vehicles, the Wallyford Toll roundabout is currently a barrier to travel on foot, in wheelchairs or by bike. Any existing pedestrian or cyclist provision on the approaches to the roundabout is severed by the traffic on the roundabout, and there is no easy way for partially-sighted people, or people with limited mobility, to make a connection across it. Some examples are:

Narrow pavements with no crossings as you approach from Prestonpans

End of cycleway on Haddington Road as you approach from Musselburgh

Additionally, two separate East Lothian Council projects are bringing forward improved routes for people walking, cycling, and wheeling are planned that connect into the roundabout:

• Musselburgh Active Toun (MAT), a new segregated cycleway (Route 2) is to be provided on the A199 Haddington Road, connecting Wallyford Toll to Musselburgh
• the high quality Cross East Lothian Active Freeway (formerly known as the SATC), connecting Dunbar to Edinburgh, mostly following the A199 corridor - the current proposal for the route is for it to connect through Wallyford Park and Ride, before crossing The Loan and continuing westwards towards Wallyford railway station. 

The alignments of these routes are shown in this image:

Changes to Wallyford Toll are a key part of longer-term proposals to make it easier to walk and cycle between Prestonpans, Wallyford, Musselburgh and Tranent. Once the routes are complete, many more people will feel able to choose to walk or cycle, knowing that they can reach their destination easily and quickly.

The proposed design for Wallyford Toll roundabout includes:

• four new green man/green bike crossings to create more opportunities for safe crossing of the arms of the roundabout
• improved facilities to allow people to walk, wheel and cycle safely around and across the roundabout
• narrowing the space for motorised traffic on the roundabout (while still ensuring that buses and large lorries can navigate it)

Proposed design for Wallyford Toll roundabout

East Lothian Council is working closely with our consultants to finalise this new design, and we will then be looking at funding options for construction of this project over the next few years.