Sound Of Barra Integrated Transport Project

Eriskay - 4th November 2000

Around 60 per cent of the final quantity of rock for the Eriskay causeway had been placed by Saturday November 4 and detailed consideration is being given as to exactly when the two sides of the causeway will join up.

On the Eriskay side the core has now extended to 880m from shore (ave. 2.4m below full height) with rock armouring to core continuing using some of the 190,000 tonnes of rock extracted from Eriskay where the rock cut has reached 510m inland from the shore (of 650m).

On the Uist side causeway construction is continuing on the south side of proposed bridge - 600m from shore (average 2.3m below full height) and rock armouring to core is also in progress with 225,000 tonnes of rock placed, extracted from the quarry at Glendale.

At the temporary slipway on the east side of causeway the timber alignment structure complete and ferry facilities will be ready for the ferry to move over this week.

At the bridge site a temporary piling has been frame erected to the north half of the bridge. The H-piles to the north abutment and the tubular sleeves to the north pier have been pitched and part driven.

With only 170 metres left to go ­ but in some of the deepest water of the crossing - the gap closure (core only, not full height) is still planned to be between now and end of November. The actual closure is weather and tidal dependent and an actual date (expected to be between mid to end November) has yet to be finally determined.

The weather in the week to November 4 started off with gales but turned out mainly dry, sunny and calm.

Employment. In all, there are now 68 employed on site (including 3 CnES) - with 56 per cent resident in the Western Isles.