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South Ford Causeway

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South Ford Causeway
Location Map ( geo)
S-ford1.jpg
Cameraicon.png View gallery (4)
From:  Iochdar, South Uist
To:  Creagorry, Benbecula
County
Inverness-shire
Highway Authority
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Opening Date
1941, 1982
On road(s)
A865
Crossings related to the A865

As its name suggests, this causeway crosses the South Ford between South Uist and Benbecula. It carries the A865 across the tidal channel, which can still be walked across with reasonable safety at low tides.

History

The Bridge

With the project planned before the outbreak of war, the South Ford Bridge gained unexpected impetus to connect the Airbase (now the airport) on Benbecula to the military ranges on South Uist, and its ferry port at Lochboisdale. It was completed in 1941 and opened in 1942, and consisted of an 8-span Concrete Bridge between Benbecula and Creagorry Island, and a further 74 spans across to South Uist. The whole construction was about 800m long and single track throughout. Contractor was Fisher Bros. Ltd. of Edinburgh. Expected cost was £50,000.

1980s replacement

The single bridge on the causeway

As the 1980s dawned, it became clear that the old bridge was in need of replacement, not only from a structural point of view, but also due to the volume of traffic it was now carrying. The council initially carried out extensive studies into the effects a causeway might have on the tides, and then decided that a single-span bridge between Benbecula and Creagorry Island would be sufficient. The main crossing is all a causeway.

The new Causeway crosses in the same general location as the old bridge, although it was necessarily built alongside the bridge. However, the crossing to Creagorry Island is entirely new, with the old alignment on Benbecula still partially in use as an unclassified road.


Links



South Ford Causeway
Related Pictures
View gallery (4)
A865-creagorry3.jpgS-ford1.jpgS-ford2.jpg20180523-1629 - South Ford Causeway 57.4076576N 7.326657W.jpg
Other nearby roads
Uist
Crossings to and within the Western Isles
To the IslesBarra Ferry • Lochboisdale Ferry • Uig - North Uist Ferry • Uig-Harris Ferry • Lewis Ferry
Within the IslesVatersay Causeway • Sound of Barra Ferry • Daliburgh Causeway • Druidibeag Causeway • Eriskay Causeway • Loch Bee Causeway • South Ford Causeway • North Ford Causeway • Baleshare Causeway • Berneray Causeway • Sound of Harris Ferry • Seilebost Causeway • Scalpay Bridge • Great Bernera Bridge
Other AreasIrish Sea • Inner Hebrides • Western Isles • Shetland • Orkney • North Sea • English Channel • Solent • Inland Crossings • Other Island Crossings


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