Bridges, tunnels, or causeways may potentially connect the Isle of Mull to the Scottish mainland in the future, following a proposal in a Scottish government paper to initiate a formal consultation on the concept.
The National Islands Plan advocates for "detailed appraisals" to be undertaken regarding the establishment of three new fixed links across Scotland. These proposed connections would link Mull to the mainland, Barra to the Uists, and the Uists to Harris/Lewis.
This proposal follows a 2022 review conducted by Transport Scotland, which indicated that fixed links—defined as permanent connections such as bridges, tunnels, or causeways—could offer long-term benefits.
Nonetheless, the National Islands Plan also acknowledges that local opinions on the matter are likely to vary.
The report identified that fixed links could be transformative for each region by eliminating weather-related constraints, increasing travel capacity, and reducing journey times.
According to the document, these improvements would provide "lasting benefits for communities, businesses, and visitors alike."
However, the plan also notes that public engagement revealed a range of responses to the idea.
"While some see them as transformative opportunities, others prefer to prioritise investment in existing transport modes. The perspective of islanders will therefore remain central to guiding our work in this area."
Impact on Mull
The 2022 Transport Scotland report found that a fixed link between Mull and the mainland would "improve connectivity and also allow for the reconfiguration of transport provision between the island and the mainland."
This development would benefit the region, as the primary ferry route between Craignure and Oban "is one of the most popular and most capacity constrained routes for vehicles on the CHFS ferry network."
However, the report also cautioned that the island's character would be "permanently changed" by such a connection, potentially leading to "a perception of eroded island identity," as well as increased traffic on Mull.
At the time, the report estimated a high-level cost of approximately £1.29 billion to implement all three proposed fixed links.
A Transport Scotland spokesperson stated:
"The Scottish government remains committed to taking forward work on the three proposed fixed links.
"The next step is in determining whether there is a robust enough business case and local support to progress these options for more detailed consideration.
"The business cases for a potential Sound of Harris, Sound of Barra fixed links and a fixed link between Mull and the Scottish mainland would need to consider the benefits, costs and challenges associated with these interventions and would further consider the feasibility of improving island connectivity through these additional fixed links."
