Sound Of Barra Integrated Transport Project

Eriskay - 16th December 2000

Work continued last week prior to the festive shutdown. The shutdown means that there will be no further reports before mid-January..

Causeway

• Core level raised to 2.0m below finished road level
• Rock armouring to core in progress: 50% complete
• There was an underwater rock armour inspection by divers, looking to see if there were any gaps in the protection of the causeway
• The operators of the long-reach excavator were also surveying their work on the rocks underwater using a television camera built into the excavator arm
• Experts were also checking the stability of rocks in the new cuttings
• Total rock placed : 530,000 tonnes : 75% of final quantity

Uist Quarry

Drilling, blasting & excavating rock - over 75 per cent complete

Bridge

• Preparation for pile-cap construction in progress
• Rock armouring of north abutment in progress
• Steel platform erected for excavator to place south abutment armour

Eriskay Approach Road

• Road cut at 600m inland from shore (of 650m)
• Rock excavation over 90 per cent complete

Weather

Mostly fine with some showers and moderate winds

Personnel

55 total employed on site (including 3 CnES) - 60 per cent resident in the Western Isles.

The numbers employed have dropped since the joining up of the two halves of the causeway but are expected to rise again when subcontractors start work on the roadway.