The Edinburgh City Bypass (A720) was closed for nearly 18 hours following a fatal incident on Wednesday night, during which a woman was killed. The closure, which began around 9 p.m. and lasted until 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, caused significant traffic chaos across Edinburgh, with drivers facing extensive delays and diversions.
The incident occurred on the westbound carriageway near the Baberton junction when a pedestrian was struck by a Citroen Berlingo van. The 47-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police Scotland confirmed the road closure was necessary for detectives to conduct their investigation at the site.
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a road traffic offense as part of the ongoing investigation into the full circumstances of the collision. Police are appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone who may have seen a woman in the area prior to the incident, or who has dash-cam footage that could assist their inquiry.
Sergeant Grant Hastie of Police Scotland stated, "Our thoughts are with the family of the woman who died and her next of kin are aware. Inquiries are ongoing and we are appealing for information that could assist with our investigation."
The closure of the A720, a major trunk road used by over 75,000 vehicles daily, led to extensive tailbacks on the M8 and M9 motorways, as well as on surrounding city roads. Traffic advisories from the City of Edinburgh Council suggested that the delays were among the worst the city had ever experienced, with some motorists warned of waits up to 90 minutes.
Public transportation was also heavily impacted, with Lothian Buses reporting significant delays across dozens of services. Commuters traveling to and from Edinburgh Airport were also advised to allow extra time for their journeys.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 3870 of November 11.