Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PRESS RELEASE 11 September 2000 For Use: Immediately

People - whether in the Western Isles or far beyond - are now able to keep a week-to-week watch on the progress of the Eriskay Causeway, the largest civil engineering project of its type in Britain.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has launched an internet site - at www.cne-siar.gov.uk/eriskay - which brings up-to date coverage of progress on the last of the major fixed links planned in the Western Isles.

The site also profiles work on earlier similar projects, back to the 1940's, and looks at the battle to complete the Western Isles Spinal Route from Ness to Barra over the past 20 years. The site makes great use of photographs to enable local people to see the work under way - and to allow more distant internet users a chance to see what the Island setting for the work is actually like.

Also profiled are the major turning points in previous projects such as the opening of the North Ford Causeway in 1960 and the Scalpay Bridge in 1998.

Cllr. Norman L. Macdonald, Chairman of the Comhairle's Land Property and Technology Committee said:

"The Eriskay Causeway is an extremely important project for the Comhairle and so is the E-causeway. Once again, the Comhairle is at the forefront of using new technology to improve access to information. As far as I am aware the Comhairle has entered new territory by setting up such a web-site which details the progress of work on a major project of great benefit to the people of these islands, for anyone with internet access, anywhere in the world. However, the site tells a much bigger story as it details the previous fixed link projects in the islands dating back to 1942. In addition there are many related issues covered on the site, including the impact on the environment, maps of the islands and a sequence of photographs showing the causeway reaching out across the Sound Of Eriskay."

Some of the material collected for this project may also be included in a special commemorative magazine at the time of the Eriskay Causeway's opening. But also wanted for the magazine are local stories about overcoming problems of communications between the Western Isles in the past. Anyone with a story to tell is asked to contact Mr Fred Silver of Intermedia Services on 01851 705743 or by mail to 40a Church Street, Stornoway. The stories could be individual experiences or more general historical notes.

The latest up date on progress shows that the causeway coming out from Eriskay had reached Eel Rock, nearly in the centre of the Sound of Eriskay, by last weekend, a major step in progress towards the link up planned for mid November. The causeway core had extended to 520 metres from the shore by September 2 with 110,000 tonnes of rock placed, extracted from Eriskay. On the Uist side the causeway core has extended 460 metres from the shore and a total of 150,000 tonnes of rock have been placed, extracted from the quarry. Over 50 people are now employed on the project, the highest employment level since work on the project started.

Work is also continuing at Ceann a’ Gharaidh, the site for the Eriskay terminal of the Sound of Barra ferry.

Ends

Issued by Nigel Scott
Communications Officer