Transport Chairman starts final contract on Skye road.

The start of the sixth and final contract to upgrade the A851 road between Broadford and Armadale, Sleat, Isle of Skye, was marked today (Wednesday) at a turf cutting ceremony.

Councillor John Laing, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Transport Environment and Community Services Committee and Vice-Chairman of HITRANS, the strategic transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, cut the first turf on a 3.5 kilometre stretch of road between Teangue and Kilbeg.

The Highland Council has awarded a contract worth £2.5 million to R J McLeod Ltd, who also completed the third phase from Isle Ornsay to Teangue; the fourth phase between Armadale and the Gaelic College at Sabhal Mor Ostaig; and the fifth phase between Duisdale and Duisdalemore..

Funding of more than £15 million for the improvements to this route has been provided by The Highland Council, with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund.

In January 2003, HITRANS launched a campaign to make greater progress in transforming 1,700 km of lifeline single track roads to modern standards, at an estimated cost of £400 million. The A851 was part of the Wester Ross and Skye strategic circuits identified in the HITRANS campaign.