Tens of thousands due to pay their respects
The public is expected to gather in large numbers along the line of the cortege route to pay their respects to Her Majesty The Queen tomorrow.
The route starts from Balmoral at 10am and is due to arrive in Edinburgh six hours later, although timings are fluid based on a number of elements.
Those wishing to attend are being urged to do so safely, plan ahead and allow extra time, taking account of local and city centre road closures, weather conditions, limited facilities and the likelihood of spending many hours at the roadside.
Significant numbers of stewards are being drafted in, alongside police officers, to help keep the public safe. The stewards will provide advice on routes from car parks, identified crossing points and safe viewing areas.
The speed limit on the Kingsway at Dundee will be reduced to 40mph for its whole length throughout the day in the interests of public safety.
Traffic Scotland operator manager Stein Connelly said: “First and foremost I would like to express our deepest condolences on behalf of everyone at Transport Scotland and Traffic Scotland to the Royal Family. Many of us had the pleasure of meeting Her Majesty at the Queensferry Crossing opening and new Borders Railways events and we were always impressed with her knowledge and kind manner.
“This is an event of unprecedented scale. Even the recent COP26 gathering in Glasgow cannot match the amount of preparation and planning that has gone into this operation.
“I am grateful to our partners for their efforts to date, however in order for the next few days to be successful we need the public to play their part by planning ahead, checking before they travel, and allowing extra time for journeys.
“The northbound carriageway of the Kingsway and A90 will be open throughout.
"Other roads may be closed at short notice, at the discretion of senior officers within Police Scotland.
“Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the travelling public, but significant delays are expected. Please plan ahead and use public transport where possible. If you absolutely have to travel by car, allow extra time and only park within designated areas.
“For up to date travel information and other updates, visit the Traffic Scotland website and twitter feeds, and check local authority websites for more localised information.”
Police Scotland Deputy Chief Constable Malcolm Graham said: “As the Chief Constable has said, the loss of Her Majesty The Queen is deeply felt and policing has an important role to play in the coming days to ensure ceremonial events take place safely and with dignity.
“Our priority is public safety and we are working with partners, including the UK and Scottish governments, as well as local authorities, to support the delivery of planned events.
“This includes supporting people and businesses to plan ahead for any potential disruption as a result of road closures, which are largely in the Royal Deeside and Edinburgh areas, and the management of crowds gathering to pay their respects.
“We understand that the public will want to show their respects to Her Majesty and we would urge them to do so safely.
“If you are attending to view the Queen’s cortege, please do not leave your vehicle at the side of the road as this poses a risk to public safety. Please only park in designated areas and follow the directions of stewards and police officers.
“We would also urge people not to stand in unsafe areas and to keep off the carriageway at all times. There will be rolling road closures along the route.
“Other roads close to the route are expected to be significantly affected as large numbers of people from across Scotland and beyond come to pay their respects.”
