Sound Of Barra Integrated Transport Project

Eriskay - 17th February 2001

The latest developments in the week ending February 17 included the starting of work on the parapet wall for the causeway starting from Eriskay, the starting of work to fix the bridge beams in position, and the final completion of the cutting for the road on to Eriskay.

Causeway

• Rock armouring to core in progress : over 75 per cent complete
• Parapet wall begun from Eriskay
• Total rock placed : 615,000 tonnes : 88 per cent of final quantity
• Core raised south of bridge - to 1m (average) below finished level

Uist Quarry

Drilling, blasting & excavating rock - over 80 per cent complete

Bridge

• Precast beams transported from Ireland to Lochboisdale by sea, then by road to site on 15th February
• Centre and south span beams placed; steel fixing begun
• Completion of bridge structure planned for second half of March

Eriskay Approach Road

• Rock excavation: 98 per cent complete
• Blasting completed
• Cutting completed through to Eriskay road junction

Weather: fine all week

Personnel: 53 total employed on site (including 2 CnES) - 66 per cent resident in the Western Isles.