Delays expected at first barrier from 24-26 January for survey work

Orkney Islands Council is advising the public to expect short delays on the main St Margarets Hope to Kirkwall road next week (A961) as survey work on the first Churchill Barrier takes place.

The works are scheduled to take place from 24 and 26 January inclusive. All motorists including public buses (X1 service) and school buses are likely to experience short delays.

It’s expected the majority of the work will be carried out using temporary traffic signals but there could also be some short duration closures at times to ensure that works are carried out in safety.

This is rescheduled survey work which had to be cancelled last October due to severe winds.

The work is being carried out to further explore deterioration in recent years of the road surface in particular areas, to inform an expert view on options to address the issue long term.

Following the survey work, there will be a period for the consultant to review their survey alongside data the Council has built up over recent years, including work done in 2019 which gathered core samples, video and radar footage and ground penetrating radar (GPR) data of the structure.

It’s hoped an options appraisal and costings for possible long term solutions will be reported to the Council in spring 2023.