// BBC UK NEWS — CRONACA
Princes Street to reopen seven weeks after building fire
The former Debenhams building was gutted by a fire in July during work to turn it into a hotel
Edinburgh's Princes Street is to fully reopen on Saturday, seven weeks after a major fire at a former department store.
The thoroughfare was partially closed for almost the entirety of the city's festival season after the blaze at the B-listed former Debenhams in the early hours of 9 July.
Bus routes were diverted away from the area and tram services were only operating in the west of the city while work to make the remainder of the building safe was ongoing.
City of Edinburgh Council said "several tonnes" of debris had been removed from the site, and tram links would resume subject to "testing" on Friday.
A number of businesses and hospitality venues in the east of the city said they had suffered reduced footfall due to the closure.
The Scottish government previously committed £5m to the recovery effort, allowing some businesses to offset lost business.
Edinburgh's Princes Street could reopen by end of August after fire
Scottish government announces £5m Princes Street fire support
Part of the pavement directly outside the former store will remain closed while remedial work continues.