Skye and Raasay area road maintenance update

Members of the Skye and Raasay Area Committee noted the road maintenance update, including works completed and additional works programmed for the remainder of the financial year 2024/25.

As detailed in Report No SR/3/24, the 2024/25 Capital Program considered was based on the 2023/24 Area Roads Budget as the 2024/25 Capital Budget had not been calculated at the time of Committee. As the 2024/25 Capital allocation and the Strategic allocation to the Skye and Raasay Capital Budget is now known, additional works can be programmed. The allocation is as shown below: -

• Structural Overlay/Inlay £521,223
• Surface Dressing £340,565
• Strategic Allocation £2,089,850
• Structures £50,000

Total £3,001,638

Skye and Raasay Area Committee Chair, Cllr John Finlayson said: “A targeted programme of road repair works across 25 different locations has been completed, with the additional funding allocation allowing a further 25 to be carried out this financial year 2024/25.

“Across Skye, road use for approximately seven months of the year from April-October is significantly greater as we welcome approximately 600,000 tourists to the area and the road infrastructure and funds available simply doesn’t meet the needs of the users and requires improved funding to enable sustained repairs and improvements to the road network. While Members would like to thank the roads repair team for the works carried out, we will continue to identify additional funding avenues to further improve the condition of our roads on Skye & Raasay.”

Works for the Skye and Raasay area are identified based on a prioritised ranking.  The ranking is informed by:

• Scottish Road Maintenance Condition Survey (SRMCS) data.
• Safety inspections
• Service inspections
• Input and feedback from Ward Members

The list of prioritised projects approved along with the report presented to the committee is available here (Item 9).