Lochmaddy Pier's £10m upgrade work to begin this month

Upgrade work on the Lochmaddy Pier will begin this month after a £10m contract was awarded to L&M Keating Ltd.

The marine, civil engineering and building company was handed the contract by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to carry out upgrade work at the site in North Uist.

Keating will be responsible for completing all civil engineering works for the harbour upgrade project, including pier strengthening and extension, upgraded fendering, land reclamation and seabed dredging.

The work will commence in January 2020 and is expected to be completed in spring 2021.

CalMac will continue to operate ferry services during the works.

The upgrade work is part of the £60m Skye Triangle Infrastructure Project, which involves significant harbour upgrades at the three ports at Tarbert, Lochmaddy and Uig.

Minister for energy, connectivity and the Islands, Paul Wheelhouse said: “I am very pleased to see the planned upgrade of Lochmaddy Pier moving forward with the award of this contract, following the recent award of the contract for construction works at Tarbert on the Isle of Harris.

“Work can now begin on the construction phase of the project, which will deliver an improved experience for the passengers who use these important services.”

Cllr Uisdean Robertson, Chair of the Comhairle’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this very important milestone in the delivery of infrastructure improvements for the wider Skye Triangle route.

“We look forward to continuing to work with Transport Scotland, with CMAL and now with Keating in making significant improvements to the pier and marshalling areas at Lochmaddy.”