A vital road serving communities in north Skye has reopened after local roads crews worked through challenging conditions to clear around 300 tonnes of landslide debris and make the route safe again.

The A855 near Uig reopened on Wednesday 7 October, five days after a landslide brought disruption to the Trotternish area and left council engineers facing a substantial repair operation.

The incident was first reported to Highland Council shortly before 5.30pm on Friday 2 October, when a large quantity of material slipped onto the road at the Idrigill bends, also blocking the nearby Idrigill Township Road.

Police closed the route immediately, while the council’s local roads team responded within 45 minutes to begin assessing the situation and tackling the debris.

What followed was a considerable effort involving roads staff, engineers, contractors and traffic management teams, all working to restore a route which plays an important part in everyday life for local communities.

By Saturday evening, the township road had been cleared, although further inspections showed that the main A855 would need to remain closed while the hillside was made safe.

The work involved considerably more than simply shifting the fallen material, with crews also having to improve drainage, redirect water away from the affected area and reinforce the unstable ground.

Rock armour was brought from Sconser Quarry to help stabilise the bank, while additional equipment was arranged from the Ross and Cromarty roads team to clear drainage gullies.

Throughout the operation, engineers carried out regular safety inspections to ensure the repairs could proceed without putting road users or workers at unnecessary risk.

Particular attention was also given to maintaining essential access for local schools, with arrangements put in place to minimise disruption during the closure.

Councillor John Finlayson, chair of Highland Council’s Skye and Raasay Committee, said:

“Despite the unforeseen disruption the landslide has caused it is really important to acknowledge the sterling efforts of the roads team to clear the 300 tons of landslide debris and then stabilise the area with rock armour.

“The team responded immediately after the incident and worked flat out to get the road open as soon as possible.

“The speed with which they got the work done has to be applauded.

“I would like to thank Road Operations Manager Andrew Bone and all his team for working so hard to get the road re- opened in such a short timescale which I also know is hugely appreciated by all the communities in the Trotternish area of Skye.”

The operation also required coordination between council departments, contractors and emergency services, with regular updates provided to community councils, schools, elected representatives and residents.

Work continued throughout Monday and Tuesday as additional material was brought to the site and drainage improvements were completed.

Engineers returned on Wednesday morning to oversee the final stages, and the road was reopened to all traffic at precisely 3.28pm.

For people living and working in Trotternish, the reopening brought an end to several days of disruption and restored an important connection through the north of the island.

The episode also demonstrated the value of having experienced local crews who understand the roads, terrain and particular challenges of keeping Highland communities connected.

While the landslide itself was an unwelcome reminder of how quickly the landscape can disrupt everyday journeys, the response showed what can be achieved when local knowledge, skilled workers and emergency planning come together.

And for the communities who rely on the A855, the efforts of those who spent five days getting it open again have not gone unnoticed.