This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Further road improvements in Western Isles
01/09/2004
The upgrade of the main road linking the Western Isles
has been given the go ahead.
The last remaining single track section on the road
between the ferry ports at Stornoway on Lewis and Tarbert
on Harris will be improved to standard two lane single
carriageway, as will the final remaining single track
section from the ferry port at Lochmaddy to Clachan on
North Uist.
The Executive is providing £3.3 million towards the two
schemes which will upgrade a further 11km of the Western
Isles Spinal Route at a total cost of £10 million.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has already committed £3.3m
and the remaining funding is the subject of a bid for
European funding which is expected to be confirmed
shortly.
It is anticipated that work on the Stornoway to Tarbert
section will begin within the next few weeks and should be
completed by the end of 2005. The upgrade of the southern
section will follow next year, with the road open by the
end of 2006.
Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"These improvements will reduce journey times, improve
road safety and create better links to ferries and airports
on the Western Isles. They will bring significant benefits
to local people and businesses.
"There has been a big campaign to complete the work on
these roads with this major £10 million project. I am very
pleased that the Executive is now able to provide HITRANS
with £3.3 million to allow the scheme to proceed. This
project will play a major role in growing the economy,
increasing tourism and creating more jobs in the Western
Isles.
"Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has shown real leadership in
developing these schemes, in partnership with HITRANS, and
with the Highlands and Islands Transitional Programme. The
Executive is committed to investing in local roads, here
and across Scotland, and we are especially keen to improve
links in rural communities. I am delighted that our support
for the Spinal Route means work can begin shortly."
The Western Isles Spinal Route runs from Port of Ness at
the north of Lewis to Castlebay at the south of Barra, and
includes 190km of roads and the ferries across the Sound of
Harris and Sound of Barra.
These schemes are the latest major transport
improvements in the Western Isles. Over the last 25 years,
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has upgraded single track roads
to double track, built the Scalpay Bridge, constructed
causeways at Eriskay and Berneray, and invested in ferries
and ports.
The major elements of the two schemes are:
- Upgrading of the remaining 5.6km
of single track section of the Stornoway to Tarbert
(A859) road;
- Upgrading of the remaining 5.9km
of single track section of the Lochmaddy to Clachan
(A865/A867) road.
It is expected that the contract for the Stornoway to
Tarbert section will be awarded to Aggregate Industries.
The contract is valued at £3,573,760.
Mr Stephen met regional transport partnership HITRANS
earlier this year to discuss the two projects on the
Western Isles Spinal Route.
Over the last 25 years, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has
received around £27 million from the European Regional
Development Fund towards improvements on the Western Isles
transport infrastructure.