SKYE CROSSING - A DESIGN, BUILD, FINANCE AND OPERATE PROJECT

The pound 24 million fixed link between the Isle of Skye and the west coast of Scotland was one of the UK's first design, build, finance and operate projects. It replaces an overloaded ferry service which would otherwise have had to struggle on for 20 more years before a publicly funded replacement could be justified. This paper records the design and construction of the main 500 m long prestressed concrete bridge, w hich pushed balanced-cantilever construction to new limits, and the 20 0 m incrementally launched Carrich bridge. It also describes the finan cial arrangements, tolling procedures and safety and quality practices adopted during construction.