The final section of the Portree Link Road has taken a decisive step forward after the contract was awarded to Strath Civil Engineering Ltd.
The work will begin in 2026 on the Isle of Skye with funding from the Scottish Government and the Highland Council supporting the £1.9 million project.
The road is expected to open in the autumn of 2026 and it will complete the northern distributor route that has been talked about for decades.
The link sits at the heart of Portree’s long term growth plan and is designed to support new housing, public services, and the steady expansion of the island’s capital.
It will serve the development at Home Farm while connecting the A87 Dunvegan Road with the A855 Staffin Road, creating a clear route around the town.
The aim is simple and long overdue.
Ease pressure on the narrow streets in the centre of Portree and give residents and visitors a better way to move through the area without feeding constant congestion.
It will also ease the long standing bottleneck at the harbour junction which struggles every year under the weight of local life and a thriving visitor season.
Skye and Raasay Area Committee Chair Cllr John Finlayson welcomed the moment with obvious relief.
“The awarding of this contract is really positive news, and I sincerely hope that it is now finally, all systems go on this key transport link.
“We are all eager to see work starting on this project which will open up a range of opportunities relating to housing, co location of public services and other amenities, all of them vital to future development that will benefit Portree and the wider Skye area.”
Skye and Raasay Area Committee vice chair Cllr Drew Millar brought a sense of hard earned perspective after watching the project sit in limbo for almost three decades.
“Having waited almost 30 years to see this project come to fruition I am delighted to see the contract awarded.
“It represents a substantial investment into Skye infrastructure.
“As well as easing the pressure on traffic through the centre of Portree, and on Bosville Terrace in particular, this road offers the potential for a range of major regeneration opportunities for the area.
“I look forward to seeing the development taking shape in 2026.”
There is something grounding about a project that has lived in conversation for so long finally moving from promise to action.
Portree has stretched and adapted to the pressures of growth for years, and this small but significant change will give the town room to breathe and plan with confidence.
A new road might not transform Skye overnight but it sends a message about investment, ambition, and the belief that communities deserve infrastructure that works for them.
The link road is one of those quiet decisions that shapes the future in steady, practical ways.
