Sound Of Barra Integrated Transport Project

Aird Mhor - 24 November 2001

Progress on the road access to the new ferry terminal at Aird Mhor on Barra continued with significant developments in the fortnight between November 11 and November 24.

Drilling and blasting along the roadway is now complete, with the last 20 metres being cleared by a special hydraulic breaker on an excavator.

There was one blast in the rock source beside the road to provide material for reinstatement and landscaping and drilling continues in the rock source for further reinstatement and landscaping blasts.

The filling of embankments in the approach road is about 90 per cent complete.

Excavation of the services trench and the drainage ditch was started.

At the ferry terminal itself, the breakwater core and armouring now extends to full length at low level. Overall, the breakwater is nearly 85 per cent complete by volume.

Slipway concreting continues with all nine berthing walls and 75 per cent of the slab poured.

Of the Timber Alignment / Berthing Structure, three out of 14 concrete bases have been poured.

There are four tracked excavators and two articulated dump trucks on site.

Personnel: 21 total of which eight are resident in the Western Isles.

Weather: Generally fair.