Skye Bridge, Road bridge in Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland
The Skye Bridge is a road crossing made of prestressed concrete and steel that links Kyle of Lochalsh on the Scottish mainland to the island. The structure runs in a gentle curve above the water and rests on tall piers rising from Loch Alsh.
Construction of the Skye Bridge began in 1992 under project director John Henderson, and Michael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland, opened it on 16 October 1995. It replaced a ferry crossing run since around 1600, latterly by Caledonian MacBrayne, and was the first major capital project funded by the Private Finance Initiative. Tolls ended on 21 December 2004 when the Scottish Executive bought the bridge for £27 million.
The Gaelic name Drochaid an Eilein Sgitheanaich appears on signage beside the English one. Tolls ended on 21 December 2004, when the Scottish Executive bought the bridge for £27 million after the Skye and Kyle Against Tolls campaign of protests and non-payment; around 500 people were arrested and 130 convicted.
The crossing forms part of route A87 and remains open throughout the year, so access to the island does not depend on weather conditions. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the separate walkway that runs along the full span.
The main opening spans 250 meters without intermediate supports, which is unusually wide for prestressed concrete. The design uses hollow boxes inside to save weight while maintaining stability.
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