A720

A720
Name	A720
Country	Scotland
Type	Trunk road
Route	Edinburgh City Bypass
Length km	16
DirectionA	West
TerminusA	M8
DirectionB	East
TerminusB	A1
Established	1980s

A720 The A720 is a major road skirting the periphery of Edinburgh and linking arterial routes such as the M8, M9, A1, M90 and A702. It functions as a ring road for much of Edinburgh's southern suburbs and connects residential areas near Musselburgh, Currie, Loanhead and The Gyle. The route interfaces with national corridors toward Glasgow, Stirling, Dundee and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Route

The road begins at the junction with the M8 and M9 at the western approaches near Maybury and proceeds clockwise past interchanges serving The Gyle, South Gyle, Hermiston, and Baberton. It continues past junctions for Currie, Juniper Green, Pentland Hills and Curriehill before crossing toward Colinton and Oxgangs. Eastward, the route serves Morningside, Liberton, Royal Infirmary access, the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary corridors, then proceeds past Newcraighall and connects to the A1 near Musselburgh and the Firth of Forth approaches.

History

Plans for a bypass around Edinburgh date to mid-20th century proposals influenced by studies from Department for Transport, postwar urban planning offices and consultations with local authorities such as City of Edinburgh Council. Construction stages during the late 20th century tied into national motorway projects like the M8 extension and the M9 link, with contracts awarded to civil engineering firms experienced on projects such as the M74 upgrades and the Forth Road Bridge associated works. Incremental openings in the 1980s and 1990s established interchanges that matched adjacent developments around The Gyle, Royal Infirmary relocations, and retail-led regeneration in Musselburgh and Loanhead.

Infrastructure and features

The carriageway comprises dual carriageway sections with grade-separated interchanges at major junctions including connections to the M8, A702, and A1. Notable structures include viaducts and earthworks engineered to traverse the Water of Leith, River Esk, and the approaches to Pentland Hills. Junction designs incorporate roundabouts influenced by standards from the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges and local approvals from Transport Scotland and City of Edinburgh Council planners. Lighting, drainage, and noise mitigation were installed adjacent to residential zones such as Baberton, Oxgangs and Liberton.

Traffic and safety

Traffic volumes on the route reflect commuter flows between Edinburgh city centre and suburbs, as well as intercity movements toward Glasgow via the M8 and toward Newcastle upon Tyne via the A1. Peak congestion occurs at interchanges serving The Gyle and the Royal Infirmary access, mirroring patterns observed on arterial corridors like the A720-adjacent A702 and A1. Safety interventions have included junction redesigns following collision analyses similar to those undertaken for schemes on the A1(M) and improvements to signage and barriers comparable to projects on the M9. Enforcement and monitoring involve local policing units coordinated with Transport Scotland traffic management.

Public transport and cycling integration

The route interfaces with park-and-ride facilities used by services connecting Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh Gateway, and central bus operators such as Lothian Buses and regional coach providers to Scottish Citylink. Bus priority measures and stops at major junctions link with rail interchanges on lines to Haymarket and Waverley. Cycleways and active travel corridors parallel sections of the carriageway, connecting to routes toward Cycling Scotland promoted paths, greenways into Pentland Hills and commuter lanes toward Musselburgh and Currie.

Future developments and proposals

Proposals discussed by City of Edinburgh Council and Transport Scotland have considered junction upgrades, targeted capacity increases, and enhancements to public transport integration inspired by schemes on corridors such as the A1 and M8. Options evaluated include improved active travel links following guidance from Cycling Scotland, bus rapid transit connections similar to schemes near Edinburgh Park, and noise and air quality mitigations modeled on interventions used around Forth Road Bridge approaches. Planning decisions will involve statutory consultees including Historic Environment Scotland where heritage assets near alignment corridors could be affected.

Category:Roads in Edinburgh