Weight restrictions increased at Eday pier – but longer-term fix required

A weight restriction placed on vehicle movements at Eday pier has been increased to a maximum of 26tonnes (gross vehicle weight).

This will allow activities such as livestock movements, fuel deliveries and large deliveries of food and goods to the island to resume.

Recent underside inspections of the pier found that the lower sections of concrete beneath the suspended deck - constructed in the 1970s – was de-laminated, with parts of the concrete cover having broken away.   

This has exposed parts of the reinforcement steel, which had corroded – leading to concerns about the load bearing capacity over this section of the pier.

As a result, an initial weight limitation of 3.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight was immediately put in place at the pier while Council teams and contractors assessed the situation

Follow up inspections have found that whilst the weight restriction – which is the restriction across the whole suspended pier structure - can be increased in the immediacy, the issues are more widespread across the pier structure than first thought and significant work is required on the pier in the near future to address these defects and prevent further deterioration.

Additional protocols will also be put in place by Orkney Ferries for the loading and unloading of large vehicles to ensure that the weight limit of 26 tonnes is not breached at any point.  

Mellissa Thomson is a Councillor for the North Isles and a resident in Eday. She said: “I’m grateful for the work that has been carried out across multiple Council services – including Marine Services, Orkney Ferries, Engineering and our Resilience teams – to assess the issue and reevaluate the weight restriction.  

“Use of the pier is an integral part of life in Eday - whether that be folk coming on and off the ferries in their cars, livestock being transported off the island or goods being delivered.  Restrictions around vehicle movements could have caused a real long-term headache and a considerable impact on the Eday community, but the swift and pragmatic assessment from our teams and contractors has avoided the situation from continuing for too long.

“Focus can now shift to a longer-term fix. It is of course a disappointment to hear that the problems are more widespread than first thought, but I am confident in the team’s ability to deliver a solution.”

Investigations are ongoing into that longer term solution and further updates will be provided in due course. This will involve reviewing the survey recommendations, identifying potential funding sources, and planning for permanent structural improvements in collaboration with the local community and relevant services.”