Sound Of Barra Integrated Transport Project

Eriskay - 14th October 2000

By October 14, total employment on the Eriskay Causeway project had reached 70 ­ and 63 per cent were from the Western Isles. The gap had narrowed to 310 metres ­ with the second half of November still as the closing date ­ while for the bridge link, mobilisation of plant had begun and construction is planned to start 23rd October.

The temporary slipway on the east side of the causeway saw concrete slab, access road and marshalling area surfacing completed and the vehicle ferry had a trial run. The slipway facilities should be completed by early November.

Nearby, the approach road from the Glendale Road to the causeway had its 400m basecourse completed to serve as the access road to the temporary slipway.

On the main causeway itself, from the Eriskay side, the core extended to 780m from shore (ave. 2.4m below full height) and rock armouring to core continued with 175,000tonnes of rock placed, extracted from Eriskay.

The rock cut into the hill below the church on Eriskay is over 400m inland from the shore (of 650m)

On the Uist side the diversion around the bridge was completed, to 560m from the shore. Causeway construction was also continuing on the south side of bridge, from the end of the diversion. Rock armouring to core was in progress with a total of 190,000 tonnes of rock placed in the Uist side causeway, extracted from the nearby quarry.

The total rock placed is now more than 50 per cent of the final quantity During the week the weather was changeable; there were several windy/wet days, but these had no effect on the programme of works.