Brilliant sunshine greeted the first crossing of the new Eriskay causeway after the final gap in the causeway core was filled. Councillors and local community representatives and pupils and staff of Eriskay school were involved in a walk-over of the new causeway, and a variety of road vehicles were also used to take people across the Sound of Eriskay, previously linked only by a ferry.
The 1.6 kilometre causeway from South Uist to Eriskay is part of the £9.4m Eriskay and Sound of Barra integrated transport project which has been under way since May. Yesterday saw the final stones of the core put in place but the roadway over the causeway will not be complete until late next year.
Council Convener Alex Macdonald said afterwards: "This is a great day for the Western Isles and I congratulate all those involved in pushing this project ahead. It is a great achievement for them and a great day for the people of Eriskay and South Uist."
Comhairle nan Eilean Transportation Committee chairman, Mr Norman Macdonald, said: "I am honoured to have been able to join in such a great day for the people of Eriskay and the Islands as a whole. Many people have been responsible for getting this project to this stage and I thank them all for their tremendous contribution."
Mr Alasdair Morrison, MSP for the Western Isles, who was also present at the event, said: "It will completely change the psychology of Eriskay benefitting not only the Islands but the community on the other side of the Sound. Causeways and bridges always have a positive impact on the Islands and Eriskay will be no different."
After being present at the ceremony to join the two halves of the causeway, Mr Calum Macdonald, MP for the Western Isles, said: "It's the culmination of a huge achievement for the Council. When I was first elected in 1987, none of these Islands were linked. Now we are seeing the last of them getting its causeway. That's a demonstration of the vision of the Council over those 13 years. This is going to transform not just Eriskay but the whole of the South End. When we get the Sound of Barra ferry, which I am sure we will before long, then the communications for the whole of the Southern Isles will be transformed."
Mr David Blaney, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar councillor for the local ward of Daliburgh and Eriskay, said: "It's wonderful. It was great being there. People are really feeling that it's there although it's not ready yet. The time since May 8 has gone so quickly. We have all been watching the progress. It's a credit to the workforce."
Work has been progressing on the causeway - and more than a kilometre of approach roads - from both sides of the Sound of Eriskay since May 8, with around 400,000 tonnes of rock excavated from Eriskay and from a quarry at Glendale in South Uist. Between 60 and 70 people are being employed on the project which also includes new ferry terminals on Eriskay and Barra.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has put £2 million into the project with £4.1 million coming from the Scottish Executive's transportation challenge fund and the rest from European Objective 1 (£2.8 million) and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (£0.5 million).
Background
Included in the project - total cost £9,400,000 - are ferry terminals on Eriskay and Barra for a vehicle ferry, the last link in north/south communications between the Western Isles. The causeway will carry a two-track road, a new water main and mains electricity - replacing the existing underwater cable. The causeway to Eriskay is the largest civil engineering project of its type under way in the United Kingdom.
The expected completion and final opening of the Eriskay Causeway in 2001/2 will mark another major step in the process of linking up the Western Isles which began 40 years ago. The first link to be completed was the 82-span South Ford bridge from Benbecula to South Uist, completed in 1942. This was followed by the pioneering bridge to Great Bernera from Lewis opened in 1953. This was the first prestressed concrete girder road bridge in the UK.
Next came the five-mile North
Ford causeway from Benbecula to North Uist, opened in 1960. This remains the
longest causeway in the Western Isles. In 1962 the Baleshare Causeway was
opened, linking that island to North Uist. In 1983 a new two-lane causeway
was built to replace the South Ford bridge. In 1990, a causeway was opened
linking Vatersay to Barra. In 1996 the Sound of Harris car ferry service began,
linking Harris directly with North Uist. In late 1997, the Scalpay Bridge
came into use. December 1998 saw the first crossing by car of the Berneray
Causeway.
