(Alizada Studios, Shutterstock)
RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd has secured the contract for the upgrade of Uig Ferry Terminal on the Isle of Skye.
The work at Uig Port, which is owned by The Highland Council, includes an extending marshalling area, berthing structure strengthening and widening, linkspan replacement, approach way repair and widening, and a relocated new waiting shelter.
A new terminal building will also be built at the port, with it to be tendered separately and constructed during the main works. The Highland Council said that it will work closely with Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, CalMac Ferries Ltd and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar throughout the project.
Chair of The Highland Council’s Skye and Raasay committee, councillor John Gordon, commented, “This significant investment in Uig harbour infrastructure is a very positive development for Skye and the whole Highlands so I am very pleased that the contract has been awarded and we can look forward to work starting on site. Since lockdown restrictions have eased there has been a surge in bookings for the ferry service and we expect this to continue. The works are essential to ensure the Uig terminal is fully operational with improved facilities to fully accommodate this growing demand for ferry travel. It will become an important travel hub with the potential to have significant spin off benefits to the local community.
“RJ McLeod are a well established local firm with a great track record of good community liaison during projects, so we look forward to working closely with them to create this important travel hub.”
Construction is anticipated to start in September 2021, with the local authority expecting it to be complete in Summer 2023 with an outage period (required to construct the linkspan and outer roundhead, during which there can be no ferry service to/from Uig) programmed from 12 September 2022 to 3 February 2023. CalMac Ferries Ltd are working on alternative ferry provision from Ullapool during the closure period of Uig to provide capacity for this vital ferry link.
Minister for transport, Graeme Dey, said, “I welcome the contract award, which is another welcome step in delivering this important infrastructure project. It’s also pleasing to see a local company with a proven track record win the tender. I look forward to the works getting underway and continuing our valuable partnership work within the Skye triangle infrastructure programme.”
