Road works update for week starting Monday 17 July 2023

A summing up of road works underway or soon to start in the county:

A965 Finstown

Resurfacing work on the A965 in Finstown (between the junction with Heddle Road and Baikie’s Stores) is ongoing. Contractors are expected to be working on Phase 2, from Smithy Cottage (approximately 80 metres west of the Evie Road) to outside the Post Office until and including Friday 14 July. Temporary traffic lights are in place for this phase. Drivers are asked to be considerate and allow vehicles coming from the A966 Evie junction and from Parkside to filter into queues, especially buses turning right from the Evie A966 junction.

Once the above is complete, and from as early as Friday afternoon (14 July), contractors will return to finish off Phase 1 works at the A966 Evie junction which will see a return of three way traffic signals and diversions where required. Work is expected to finish on 28 July. Residents within the signed traffic management area should present their bins as they normal for collection.

A986 ‘Harray road’

Work to repair the collapsed culvert on the Harray Road (A986) will start on Monday 17 July 2023 and continue through to Wednesday 19 July inclusive. To enable the work to be carried out in safety there will be road closures and diversions in place for the duration of the works. The closure will be between Grimeston Road and Refuge Corner and will affect all traffic including public buses. Signed diversions will be via the A967 (main Birsay/Sandwick to Stromness road) and to/from Dounby via the Vetquoy Road. Public bus Service 7 (Birsay via Dounby) will follow the signed diversions and passengers should expect longer journey times as a result. Please note the public bus will not be able to serve the five mile stretch on the A986 between the Harray Junction and Dounby. It’s likely crews will be working in the verge in following days once the road reopens – drivers are asked to please observe traffic control and speed limits for everyone’s safety.

Dounby School car park

Some patching is planned in the Dounby Primary School car park from 17 to 21 July 2023. To enable the works to be carried out in safety the car park will be closed during the working day with access over being provided overnight, albeit over a temporary running surface. As some of the planned work is at the entrance to the car park there will also be times when traffic control will be in place on the main road past the car park.

Inganess Road

Streetlighting and footway resurfacing works on Inganess Road will now start week commencing 17 July. The works will start at the junction of Berstane Loan and Inganess Road, with traffic being controlled by temporary traffic signals - with some delays to the Number 9 Town bus service.

Annfield Crescent

SSEN will be closing Annfield Crescent on Monday 17 July 2023 to enable them to replace an electricity sub-station.

Kirbuster Road

Openreach have works planned on the Kirbister Road, Stromness from week commencing Monday 17 July until 19 September. In order to carry out the works in safety all work is being carried out under road closure conditions.

A960 St Andrews

Scottish Water works on the A960 St Andrews from Groatsetter Road to Sebay Mill are ongoing, with traffic controlled by temporary lights.

Looking Ahead:

Marwick Drive – patching works near junction with Stromberry will start around 24 to 28 July 2023. Traffic lights will be in place - with short delays to all traffic including the #9 public bus (Kirkwall Town service)

Looking further ahead:

• A960 between Quoydandy Branch Road and Groatsetter Road (areas of reconstruction) – planned to start 31 July 2023
• A961 Burray Village (carriageway patching) - to be programmed
• A964 bends at Scapa Distillery and Smoogro Road to Orphir Village (carriageway patching) - to be programmed
• A965 B9055 (Brodger Road) to Stenness Village (carriageway patching) - to be programmed
• A966 Gorseness Road (Tingwall end) to Woodwick Road (areas of reconstruction) - to be programmed