Skye harbour closes for two months of upgrade work

Skye's Uig harbour has closed for two months of upgrade work, disrupting services for two months.

The Skye triangle route connects the isle to Harris and North Uist and is a lifeline route to the mainland.

The pier requires essential repairs but also improvements so it can accommodate two new ferries which are too big for the existing harbour.

It will reopen again on 13 March, before being shut again for six weeks from 30 October.

Uig's pier and other facilities are being upgraded and the first phase of work will include dredging.

A temporary structure will be built to allow services to resume in March.

• The problem with CalMac's ageing ferries

• £115m ferry contract for two new CalMac ships

The Scottish government announced last year the upgrade would be done in two separate phases to try to minimise disruption to CalMac's Skye Triangle route.

Traffic will be diverted to other services during the closures.

The Scottish government allocated £115m towards the construction of the vessels, which are being built in a Turkish yard.

There had been an original plan for the Skye Triangle to be served by a ferry being built at the nationalised Ferguson shipyard on the Clyde - but its completion has been delayed.

Ferguson Marine did not bid for the latest order and was not shortlisted for the Islay ships.

Ken Gowans, chairman of Highland Council's economy and infrastructure committee, said: "These works at Uig are essential to ensure the ferry services on the Skye Triangle route can continue to serve communities and visitors for many years to come."

CalMac chief executive Robbie Drummond added: "The closure of Uig harbour means that we have had to find the best alternative options for our customers, and we have tried to keep disruption to a minimum for them."