Kyle of Tongue Causeway

The causeway across the Kyle of Tongue was built in 1971 to cut out a 6 or 7 mile detour around the southern end of the Kyle. The approach to the causeway from Tongue mostly utilises pre-existing roads, albeit with a little re alignment, and then stretches out across a long spit of land over the sands. The old road is still open to traffic, although unimproved and is now a narrow single track with grass growing up the middle in places. On the rare occasion when the causeway is closed to traffic, the old road takes 15-20 minutes longer to navigate, although it is well provided with passing places.

The Bridge section

The causeway is built on a sweeping curve to make the most of the natural landscape of the Kyle. This sees a former island used to provide a small car park and picnic site just before the bridge across the main channel. The causeway section is constructed of rock fill dumped in the shallow Kyle, sloped up to form low walls on either side of the road. The bridge consists of 18 spans, each supported by twin metal piers into the river, and carries an S2 roadway with a pavement on the upstream side, although no such pavement is provided on the causeway section. It was completely refurbished in 2011 to ensure that it maintains this important link for another 30 or 40 years.

History

The 1.56 mile scheme with a causeway and bridge from Melness Brae to Tongue Lodge was due to be opened on 3 September 1971 by Catherine Mackay, County Council member (per the Aberdeen Press of 1 June 1971). Contractor was Alexander Sutherland Ltd. of Golspie.