BAKKAFROST SCOTLAND FUNDS IMPROVEMENTS TO ONE OF SCOTLAND’S MOST ICONIC ROADS

Bakkafrost Scotland funds improvements to one of Scotland’s most iconic roads. Community to benefit as iconic road renovations completed.

Extensive improvement works of the iconic Bealach na Ba Road (‘Pass of the Cattle’) have been successfully completed, thanks to a major infrastructure initiative arranged and funded by salmon producer Bakkafrost Scotland.

The renovations form part of a wider project to install a 16-mile-long cable delivering 100% renewable energy to its state-of-the-art Applecross Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) facility in Wester Ross, set to become the largest of its kind in Scotland.

Key upgrades include resurfacing large sections of the road, an additional new passing place, 21 passing place improvements and new signage erected.

Donald MacKenzie, who worked on the road for over four decades while employed by Highland Council, said:

“The Bealach really is vital to the local community and the work that has been undertaken will give it a new lease of life.

“The volume of traffic on the road has increased dramatically over the past 20 years, with increasing numbers of tourists coming to the area.

“There’s not much that I’ve not done on the road, from fixing potholes to shifting cattle. It is great to see the improvements have been completed, especially ahead of the tougher weather conditions coming our way in the months ahead.”

Donald attended a ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the completion of the work along with school pupils from Applecross Primary, members of the Community, including local council representatives, and Bakkafrost Scotland’s Managing Director Ian Laister.

Donald added:

“It was a great day, even with the challenges of the wind and rain, which only reinforced the need for the road to be in good condition.”

The enhancements will help improve road safety and accessibility for residents and visitors.

It is also hoped that the improvement works will help facilitate the installation of superfast fibre broadband in the local community.

The resurfaced section is the highest and most challenging part of the crossing of this dramatic single-track road winding through the Applecross peninsula.

Built in 1822 and upgraded from gravel to tarmac in the 1950s, the road mimics Alpine engineering with steep gradients and tight hairpin bends.

The road climbs from sea level to 626 metres (2,053 ft) over roughly 5 miles, making it the UK’s greatest road ascent and Scotland’s third-highest mountain pass.

Ian Laister said:

“We are committed to playing an active role in the communities in which we live and work.

“This project marks a major step forward to Bakkafrost Scotland becoming the leading and most sustainable salmon producer in Scotland. It demonstrates how our operations can positively impact the social fabric and economic viability of the rural areas we are part of.”

The newly installed power cable will see clean green electricity taken from a nearby hydroelectric scheme to power Applecross RAS.

RAS is cutting edge technology that ensures the optimum environmental conditions for healthy growth of young salmon in freshwater stages by:

• Controlling water parameters for optimal health, including temperature, pH and oxygen
• Reducing water usage and waste by 90%
• Operating entirely on sustainable energy sources, including hydro and solar power
• Reusing waste

The Bealach na Ba improvement project was delivered working with the Applecross Trust and local community. The hydro connection was in collaboration with Foster Turner, which operates the hydro scheme on Applecross Estate.

Archie MacLellan, Executive Administrator at Applecross Trust, said of the works:

“The improvements to the roads will benefit locals and visitors alike. Transport connectivity plays a vital role in maintaining rural communities and their economies.

“It is encouraging to see companies like Bakkafrost Scotland prioritising local community needs alongside business growth.”