Locals praised for patience as new swathe of road works start

Orkney Islands Council is thanking local drivers and businesses for their patience after what has been a busy period for road works in the county, as the next swathe of works get underway.

Interim Head of Neighbourhood Services for OIC, Lorna Richardson said: “The past year has seen some complex works on some of our busiest roads including Junction Road near the old and new hospitals and on the main Kirkwall to Stromness road in Finstown, to name a few.

“Some works have seen drivers impacted for several weeks, but the Orkney community has taken it in their stride and worked with us to keep our road workers safe - we’re greatly appreciative of the care and respect shown by the majority of drivers around our crews and contractors.

“We’ve a similarly busy period ahead for the next several months.

“We do recognise that summer is busy tourism wise, and that road works bring disruption for folk - and so there are a number of ways we try to minimise this while keeping the work time and cost effective.

“The simple fact is that we do need to carry out roadworks year round, just because of the miles of road to attend to – we have a mix of heavily used urban roads and miles of rural roads to keep maintained.

“We arrange works so that disruption to businesses are minimised, and access maintained, as far as possible. We do write directly to businesses and residents affected, and we put signage out in the area in the lead up to works so that drivers who regularly pass through are aware disruptions are coming.

“The summer months provide us of course with better weather.

“So this is the time we’ll carry out the more complicated or involved works, or works which require warmer temperatures. It gives us better, longer lasting results, meaning we have to go back less often which of course benefits motorists and budgets in the longer term.

“While winter is less busy in terms of tourist traffic, it is more challenging to get works done - it brings longer curing times, shorter daylight hours and poorer visibility for workers and drivers.

“Winter also sees other demands on our crews for operations – it can be a really busy time for gritting, ditch clearing, and cleanup up after storms.”

The Council has published it’s programme for the months ahead at www.orkney.gov.uk/roads 

Among the 27 different locations planned, works set to take place include A-roads in Holm, Finstown, Kirkwall and St Ola, on Pickaquoy and Muddiesdale roads in Kirkwall and works in Rousay, Stronsay and Sanday.

As always the Council would like to remind everyone to Respect Our Roadworkers and take care around anyone working on our roads.

To report a road defect or a concern around road works, go to www.orkney.gov.uk/report-it

The planned works are:

• Sanday - Sellibister Road - Complete
• Kirkwall - Castle Street Car Park and Castle Street. Full length of car park and various sections on Castle Street. Complete.
• Kirkwall - Junction Road (between Castle Street and Burnmouth Road) 24 June for at least two weeks. Underway and should be completed by Wednesday 6 July, weather permitting.
• St.Ola - Sparrowhawk Road (Hatston). From Crowness Crescent to Gladiator Road. Planned for 04 July - 22 July (now underway).
• Finstown - Heddle Road (South). Hill of Heddle to Grimond Road. (not whole section).Planned for 06 July - 10 July
• Finstown - Heddle Road (North). Quarry to Hill of Heddle. (not whole section). Planned for 15 July - 17 July.
• Kirkwall - Laing Street. Full length. Planned for 25 July - 29 July.
• Finstown - Heddle Road. Junction with A965. Planned for 26 July - 27 July.
• Kirkwall - Lynn Road. From Mackenzies Drive to Deerness Road. Planned for 15 Aug - 16 Aug.
• Westray - Kirbist Road. On brae up to Nether House.Planned for 17 Aug - 20 Aug.
• Westray - Sandy Road. Between Noup Road and Marcroft. Planned for 17 Aug - 20 Aug.
• Sandwick - B9057. From Quoyloo Road to A967 (not whole section). Planned for 29 Aug - 02 Sept.
• Sandwick - Yesnaby Road. From B9056 to Roundadee Road. (not whole section). Planned for 05 Sept - 06 Sept.
• Kirkwall - Muddisdale Road. From Rugby Club westwards to end of road. Planned for 05 Sept - 06 Sept.
• Stronsay - Linksness Road. On brae down from Huip Road. Planned for 07 Sept - 10 Sept.
• Sandwick - Quoyloo Road. B9057 to Housegarth Road. (not whole section). Planned for 07 Sept - 08 Sept.
• Rendall - A966. Various Sections between Skiddy Road to Arwick Road. Planned for 09 Sept - 13 Sept.
• Deerness - Manse Road. Two patches - At junction with Denwick Road and adjacent to Watermoss Road. Planned for 13 Sept - 14 Sept.
• St.Ola - Crowness Road. Section just south of access into Crowness Place. Planned for 14 Sept - 19 Sept.
• Deerness - Braebuster Road. At junction with Halley Road. Planned for 15 Sept - 16 Sept.
• Birsay - Durkadale Road.Hillside Road to Hundland Road (not whole section). Planned for 19 Sept - 21 Sept.
• St.Ola. Work Road. Short section at corner down Cragiefield Road. Planned for 20 Sept - 21 Sept.
• Kirkwall - Holm Road. At junction with Easdale Loan. Planned for 22 Sept - 23 Sept.
• Holm - A961. Short section just north of Biggings Road. Planned for 26 Sept.
• Orphir - A964. Various sections from Gyre Road (West ) to Scorradale Road. Planned for 27 Sept - 30 Sept.
• Rousay - Church Road. At bend down from Brinian Road. Planned for 28 Sept - 30 Sept.
• Rousay - Pier Road. At bottom of brae adjacent to Pier. Planned for 28 Sept - 30 Sept.
• South Ronaldsay - Liddle Road. Section at bottom of brae down from B9041. Planned for 03 Oct - 06 Oct.
• St.Ola. A961 - Just north of Heathery Loan. Planned for 05 Oct - 07 Oct.
• Stenness - Brodgar Road. Various Locations along full length. Planned for 07 Oct - 28 Oct.
• St.Ola - A960. Various Locations between Heathery Loan and Tankrness Hall Road. Planned for 31 Oct - 07 Nov.
• Rendall - A966. Between Norseman Village and Gorseness Road. Start date to be confirmed.
• Burray - A961 - Various sections between Northfield Road and Viewforth Road. Start date to be confirmed.
• Firth - A965. Various sections from Quanterness to Finstown. Start date to be confirmed.
• Finstown - A965. A966 to Grandon Road. Start date to be confirmed.