Road works update for week starting Monday 3 July 2023

Resurfacing work on the A965 in Finstown (between the junction with Heddle Road and Baikie’s Stores) is ongoing. At present contractors are working on Phase 2, from Smithy Cottage (approximately 80 metres west of the Evie Road) to outside the Post Office. Temporary traffic lights will be in place for this phase. The works will affect access to and from Parkside. Traffic coming from the A966 Evie junction and from Parkside will be affected by traffic queuing at the temporary traffic lights. We'd ask drivers to be considerate and allow these vehicles to filter into queues, especially buses turning right from the Evie A966 junction. It’s planned that contractors will return to finish off Phase 1 works during week commencing Monday 10 July 2023, which will see a return of three way traffic signals and diversions where required to enable the work in Phase 1 to be completed. Residents within the signed traffic management area should present their bins as they normal for collection.

Pickaquoy Road will undergo patching work from 3 to 11 July 2023. It’s planned the work will be split into three areas with all work being carried out under road closure conditions. The areas of works are:

• Phase 1 Junction Road to Great Western Road - COMPLETE
• Phase 2 Great Western Road to Tesco’s access - COMPLETE
• Phase 3 Tesco’s access to Pickaquoy Loan.

Buses will not be able to service the supermarkets during Phases 2 & 3. Passengers are advised to board/disembark buses either at the Kirkwall Travel Centre, or Great Western Road old bus station car park, or on Ayre Road well away from the Ayre Mills roundabout/filling station. Access for shoppers will be maintained to the supermarket entrances:

1. from both the Junction Road and Ayre Mills ends of Pickaquoy Road during Phase 1 (albeit with a short diversion via Great Western Road for vehicles from the Kirkwall end);
2. from Ayre Mills direction for Phase 2;
3. For Phase 3, drivers can access Lidl and Tesco from Junction Road roundabout - and Co-op and Picky Centre from the Ayre Mills roundabout.

A reminder that BT Openreach are out and about at various spots along the A964 through Stenness, and also in various locations in the Stromness area, over the coming weeks – for works related to the R100 project to install new fibre optic cables. The majority of works affect one lane only, with traffic controlled by traffic lights. All traffic should expect minor delays (including public buses and school transport).

Work to repair the collapsed culvert on the Harray Road (A986) is currently planned to start during week commencing 17 July. To enable the work to be carried out in safety there will be road closures and diversions in place during working hours, typically between 8:30am and 4pm. It’s expected signed diversions will be via the A967 (main Birsay/Sandwick to Stromness road). The closure will affect the Service 7 Birsay via Dounby public bus (lunchtime service), which will follow signed diversions. A further update will be provided closer to the work starting on site.

Streetlighting and footway resurfacing is ongoing on Scapa Crescent and are expected to continue into mid July. Access to properties is being maintained. The work will be carried out using a variety of traffic management which will include road closures at times.

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

Looking Ahead:

Palace Road will see some patching work from 10 to 14 July 2023, with all works being carried out under road closure conditions. Diversions will be in place via Junction Road and Clay Loan. The closures will affect the Number 9 Town bus service, and the Number 4 Airport service, with passengers affected by the closure advised to board/disembark at the Kirkwall Travel Centre, or an alternative point on the route.

Marwick Drive will be having some patching work done near the junction with Stromberry, from 14 to 18 July - with some short delays to the #9 public bus (Kirkwall Town service) due to temporary traffic management.

Looking further ahead:

• Dounby Primary School car park (resurfacing) from 18 to 21 July 2023 (school holidays). The car park will be closed for the duration of the work.
• A960 between Quoydandy Branch Road and Groatsetter Road (areas of reconstruction) – to be programmed
• 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