Kirkwall road resurfacing update for week starting 21 February

Orkney Islands Council is reminding motorists of two sets of road works taking place in Kirkwall next week involving road closures and changes to bus services.

New Scapa Road in Kirkwall will remain closed between Manse Road and Scapa Court next week (week commencing Monday 21 February) as important resurfacing works continue.

Motorists are reminded the section of Pipersquoy Road between New Scapa Road and Broadsands Road will also be closed to through traffic.

Signed diversions via Wellington Street/High Street, Old Scapa Road and Foreland Road are in place.

All bus services will follow the diversion, except the No 9 Town Service bus - it will be unable to serve Pipersquoy and Quoybanks and will travel via Holm Branch Road to re-join the route on Holm Road.

The works are being undertaken in two phases to ensure access to the Covid Assessment Centre and Vaccine Centre at the Old Balfour at all times. Works have now switched to Phase 2, with vehicles able to access to both Centres via the old main hospital car park entrance.

Work on Broad Street and Palace Road which will was previously scheduled for starting on Monday 21 February are now not likely to start until Monday 28 February. These works, which are expected to last for around one week, will see the full length of Broad Street and the section of Palace Road up to Watergate resurfaced – full road closures (between Caste Street and Watergate) will be in place. Diversions will be in place via Junction Road, Clay Loan and Dundas Crescent.

The service No 9 Kirkwall Town Service, will follow the diversion - turning left at the top of the Clay Loan and then re-joining its route on Thoms Street.

The service No 4 Airport Bus will be unable to serve Broad Street and will continue along Junction road re-joining its route at the bottom of the Clay Loan (Union Street).

Updates on both road works will be provided via the Council's 'OIC Updates' Facebook page, at www.orkney.gov.uk/news and to local press.

Diversion plans for both sets of roadworks are available on the council website at www.orkney.gov.uk/roads

The Council would like to thank the public for their patience as we progress through the resurfacing programme and apologise for disruption caused.

Further background information on New Scapa Road works including diverion plans and a diagram of access arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination and assessment centres can be found here.