Skye Bridge

In 2006 Highlands and Islands Enterprise and HITRANS commissioned an evaluation of the economic and social impacts of the Skye Bridge.

It is now over 10 years since the bridge opened, and on 21 December 2004 the tolls were removed from the crossing. The transport changes have been significant, affecting the time, cost, comfort, convenience, reliability, and image of travelling to Skye.

Fixed links to islands have the potential to deliver step changes in quality of life to island residents and profitability to businesses. The most significant journey time change was when new ferries were introduced in 1992. Once the bridge was opened, cost replaced time as the most important factor affecting the accessibility of Skye, and substantial cost savings for travellers were subsequently made in 2004 when the tolls were removed.

This report reviews the available data and previous research, reports the results of an extensive new survey programme, assesses the scale of the impacts which have occurred, and reviews the lessons learned. The executive summary and full report is available for download in pdf format.