Skye Bridge

The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting the mainland of Scotland with the Isle of Skye. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around {{coor d|57.2796|N|5.7385|W|}}, with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn.

Related Topics:
Road bridge - Loch Alsh - Scotland - Isle of Skye - A87 - Island - Eilean Bàn

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The shortest crossing between the mainland and the island (around 500 metres), the sound between the villages of Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland and Kyleakin on the island's east coast has traditionally been the most common route. A ferry operated services from around 1600, run by a number of private operators and latterly by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Related Topics:
Kyle of Lochalsh - Kyleakin - 1600 - Caledonian MacBrayne

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With the construction of road and rail connections to Kyle of Lochalsh toward the end of the 19th century, various parties proposed the construction of a bridge to the island. Although the engineering task was well within the capability of the age (the crossing is shorter and shallower than that bridged by the Forth Bridge), the island's remote location and its small population meant the cost of a bridge could not be justified.

Related Topics:
19th century - Forth Bridge

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Increased prosperity in the islands, and a healthy summertime tourist traffic, led to ever increasing volumes of traffic queueing for the ferries, and brought renewed calls for the construction of a road bridge. In 1989 the government requested tenders to construct a toll bridge, with the contract being awarded to Miller-Dywidag, a Scottish/German construction consortium. The Miller-Dywidag proposal (designed in collaboration with civil engineering firm Arup) was for a single-span concrete arch supported by two piers resting on caissons in the loch. Construction began in 1992 and the bridge was opened on October 16, 1995. At this time the ferry service across the sound ceased, leaving the bridge and the Mallaig - Armadale ferry as the only year-round connections to the mainland.

Related Topics:
1989 - Toll bridge - Arup - Caisson - 1992 - October 16 - 1995 - Mallaig - Armadale

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