Community / Scottish Water to start £2.6m upgrade in the Westside shortly
PART of the water network in Shetland’s Westside is in line for a £2.6 million upgrade.
The work, spanning 6.4km, covers Aith and Braewick, and is expected to take eight months to complete.
The project will see water main pipes replaced.
Scottish Water said the work will “ensure the local community can continue to enjoy clear, fresh drinking water, whilst reducing the chance of pipes bursting in this area”.
It is one of three new projects across the Highlands and Islands due to commence this month, with work also planned for Newtonmore and Benbecula.
Regarding the Shetland project, Scottish Water said roadworks – including the use of temporary traffic lights and some access restrictions – will be in place whilst the project is carried out.
Phase one of the work starts from the south-west of Aith (south of Da Wedding Shed) and heads north towards Braewick.
This first phase is expected to be completed by late spring 2024.
Phase two is focused within Aith and is estimated to start early summer and be completed by August.
During this work access to the Aith marina will be maintained with the use of traffic management.
This project is being delivered on Scottish Water’s behalf by Caledonia Water Alliance (CWA) and local contractor Tulloch Developments Ltd.
Scottish Water’s corporate affairs manager in the North Gavin Steel said the utility invested over £886 million in Scotland’s critical water and waste water infrastructure last year – with “£400 million already spent in the financial year to September 2023”.
The utility is also proposing a £7 million expansion of the Sandy Loch site in Lerwick.
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