Upgrade Works at Uig Harbour – Outage period update

The Highland Council can now confirm the timing of the closure of the Uig ferry terminal. The closure period is essential to allow major investment in replacing life expired infrastructure and improving the capacity, reliability and resilience at Uig for the longer-term benefit of the Skye Triangle routes.

Following consultation earlier this year regarding the closure, which was due to start in September, the Council have been in discussion with RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd. The importance of carrying out the works during the Winter Timetable when vehicular traffic is low is essential to minimise disruption to communities and Islands.

The outage period has now been re-scheduled and avoids the late September period and will commence on the 10th of October 2022 until 27 March 2023 (a period of 24 weeks).  The closure period has been extended and includes contingencies for weather related events and is based on a 6-day working week thus providing more certainty that the works will be complete by the end of March deadline.

The Highland Council will continue to work with RJ McLeod to explore options to reduce the closure period further where practicable.

The works to the ferry terminal are programmed for completion in Winter 2023.

Following confirmation in February from The Highland Council, that the closure would not occur in the summer period, the decision to fully open summer bookings on Uig – Tarbert/Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale – Mallaig services was taken.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to completely avoid a closure in the summer timetable period. As such, CalMac will close new bookings on these services between 10-23 October 2022 and will work with customers to rearrange existing bookings once alternative service options are finalised.  

As committed to at the last round of engagement sessions, CalMac will arrange further consultation events in Uist, Skye and Harris communities in the coming weeks to discuss options for maintaining services during the closure period. The Highland Council will also attend these sessions to answer any questions about the wider harbour upgrade or the closure. 

The Highland Council will continue to work with all parties to minimise disruption. The works, when complete, will provide improved marshalling and ferry terminal facilities as well as the ability to cater for larger ferry vessels serving the route in the future.

The community will be informed of further details of the construction works and traffic management arrangements through locally held liaison meetings over the next month and throughout the project, the Highland Council Project website - https://www.highland.gov.uk/uig-harbour-redevelopment, community Facebook pages and on noticeboards located around the local community.

 

 

17 Mar 2022