Council confirms Uig ferry terminal closure dates
Highland Council has confirmed when Uig ferry terminal on Skye is to be closed for major refurbishment.
The work to improve the capacity, reliability and resilience at Uig for the long-term benefit of the Skye triangle routes will take place from October 10 this year until March 27 2023.
Following consultation earlier this year regarding the closure, which was due to start in September, the council has been holding talks with RJ McLeod (Contractors) Ltd. The importance of carrying out the work during the winter, when there is less traffic, has been stressed to minimise disruption to communities and islands. The closure period has been extended
and includes contingencies for weather-related events. It is based on a six-day working week to provide more certainty that the work will be finished by the end of March deadline.
Highland Council will continue to work with RJ McLeod to explore options to reduce the closure period if practicable.
Following confirmation in February from the council that the closure would not occur in the summer, the decision to open summer bookings on the Uig to Tarbert/Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale to Mallaig services was taken.
Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to avoid a summer closure period so CalMac will close new bookings on these services between October 10-23 when the summer timetable is still running and will work with customers to rearrange existing bookings once alternative service options are finalised.
CalMac will arrange further consultation events in Uist, Skye and Harris in the coming weeks to discuss options for maintaining services during the closure period.
The council will also attend these sessions to answer any questions about the wider harbour upgrade or the closure. The council will continue to work with all parties to minimise disruption. The work, when complete, will provide better marshalling and an improved ferry terminal, as well as the ability to cater for larger ferries serving the route in future.
The community will be given further details at liaison meetings over the next month and throughout the project. More information is also available on the Highland Council Project website, community Facebook pages and on noticeboards around the community.