Landslip closes Skye road and forces 40-mile diversion
A landslip has closed the A855 north of Uig on the Isle of Skye, leaving drivers facing a diversion of about 40 miles. Highland Council said the road would remain shut over the weekend while material was removed and repairs assessed. Further surveying could extend the closure into next week, according to a local councillor.
A landslip has closed the A855 at Idrigill Bend, north of Uig on the Isle of Skye, forcing drivers to take a diversion of about 40 miles. The ground fell away from the side of the road on Friday afternoon, sending soil and rocks towards a smaller local access road below. The access road was left completely blocked.
No injuries were reported. The incident was recorded by closed-circuit television from a nearby house. The A855 runs around the Trotternish peninsula in the north of Skye, making the closure a significant disruption for people travelling through the area.
Highland Council said an inspection on Saturday had confirmed that the road would remain closed over the weekend. Its roads team was removing slipped material while an assessment was carried out to establish the repair work needed. “Following this morning’s inspection, the A855 at Idrigill Bend will remain closed over the weekend,” the council said.
It added that the team was working to clear the road while assessing the necessary repairs. Local councillor Chrissie Gillies said the route could remain closed into next week as detailed surveying continued. The source material did not give an estimated reopening time.
A group of visiting schoolchildren were temporarily separated from their packed lunches because of the closure. A local woman volunteered to retrieve the lunches by bicycle, according to the report. The diversion remains in place while the road is assessed and cleared.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.