Contract for Uig Ferry Terminal Upgrade awarded
The Highland Council has announced that the contract for the upgrade of Uig Ferry Terminal on the Isle of Skye has been awarded to RJ McLeod (Contractors) Limited.
Uig Port is owned by The Highland Council and working closely with Transport Scotland, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), CalMac Ferries Ltd and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the ferry terminal will be upgraded with new infrastructure which will improve the ferry service provision at Uig and provide a safer enhanced experience for all ferry and harbour users both now and into the future. This forms a key part of the Skye Triangle upgrade with works ongoing at Tarbert and Lochmaddy.
The infrastructure improvements at Uig have been presented to the local community through a number of public consultation and community events and will include an extended marshalling area, berthing structure strengthening and widening, linkspan replacement, approach way repair and widening, a relocated new waiting shelter, a new terminal building (to be tendered separately and constructed during the main works), dredging and utility provision.
Chair of the Council’s Skye and Raasay Committee, Cllr John Gordon said: “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 lock-down 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 MacLeod are 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 works are anticipated to start in September 2021 and are expected 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.
Further details will be provided to the local community on the programme of works through regular community liaison meetings.
The Skye Triangle ferry route operates between Uig, Lochmaddy and Tarbert and a new ferry, funded by the Scottish Government is currently under construction to provide a vessel for the service. The new dual fuel vessel is larger with greater carrying capacity and will benefit from the improved capacity provided by the upgrade of the ferry infrastructure at Uig.
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.”
Cllr Uisdean Robertson, Chair of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said: “The award of this contract is very welcome as an important and significant step in developing infrastructure for ferry services. We are pleased to be involved in this project which will enhance journeys for the travelling public both from and to the Western Isles.”