When was isle of skye bridge built

Businesses are thriving with tourists staying in a range of accommodation, from hostels and hotels to self-catering cottages. Increasing numbers of minibus and campervan tourists flocking to the island have raised concerns as they cause congestion and wear and tear on roads, while bringing in lower revenue to the local economy than other visitors.

Tourism needs to be managed and the infrastructure put in place to cope with this new profile of tourism but, in essence, the future of Skye is looking bright. Already a subscriber? Sign in. Home Past Times.

Nevertheless, the Skye Bridge is a striking gateway to the enchanting, rugged island. The Skye Bridge on the day it opened — October 16 Sign in [[title]] [[text]]. Please try again. Past Times. Premium Content. More from the Press and Journal. People used to say The bridge toll was so unpopular that the ordinary citizens of Lochalsh and Skye formed a protest group called Skye Bridge Against Tolls or S.

They risked their liberty by refusing to pay the tolls. Most protesters escaped jail sentences, however they were heavily fined. Some protesters were not so fortunate and ended up in the jail after continuing to refuse payment.

On 21st February December the toll was finally abolished thanks to the unceasing efforts of S. The CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Armadale remains a firm favourite, while the Glenelg to Kylerhea ferry continues to provide a March to October alternative for those wishing to explore a fascinating corner of the Highlands. But in October the ferries from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin were withdrawn from service, and traffic instead began to use the new Skye Bridge.

You can read an account of the difficulties of using the ferry in in our eBooks version of "A Summer in Skye" by Alexander Smith. The coming of better road links to Kyle in , and the completion of the railway from Inverness in , confirmed Kyle of Lochalsh in its role as the primary link to Skye: with Kyleakin as its counterpart on the island. Continues below image Some will still remember Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin as places in which you unwillingly queued for the ferries at busy times.

This all changed with the opening of the bridge. The road from the Skye end of the bridge bypasses Kyleakin, making it a rather quieter place than it used to be, while Kyle of Lochalsh is, if anything, still more bustling than before and much more attractive.

The Skye Bridge was the subject of controversy both before it was built and during its construction: and it remained controversial afterwards. The tolls set when the bridge opened were based on the fares of the ferries it replaced, and as a result it became, taking length into account, the most expensive toll bridge in Europe.

Often overlooked in the heat of the debate were the benefits the bridge offered over the ferries it replaced.