Roads update for period 8 August to 18 August 2024

A summing up of road works underway or soon to start in the county - for the Dounby and County show period and through to 18 August. 

Show and other event reminders 

First a reminder of road closures, delays, parking restrictions and bus service changes in connection with the Dounby and County shows (on Thursday 8 August and Saturday 10 August respectively) and Sunday’s Riding of the Marches: 

• Special public bus services are running to and from the Douby Show (from Kirkwall and Stromness), and a free sponsored shuttle service will run between the Orkney Auction Mart and Bignold Park for the County Show. Full details at https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/bus-information-for-dounby-and-county-show-days/ 
• The No. 2 bus (Houton) service will run to an amended timetable on Saturday 10 August, to meet the south isles County Show Day sailings arranged by Orkney Ferries. Full details at: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/bus-information-for-dounby-and-county-show-days/ 
• Thursday 8 August - various roads in Dounby village will close between 18:30 and 20:30 for the Dounby Athletic Club’s Fancy Dress Parade. This includes the main A986 from Smiddybrae House to Nurses Cottage; Swartland Road, from the A986 to Flett’s Park; Vetquoy Road (B9057) from the A986 to the property of Karinya, and Hillside Road from the A986 to Market Green. For full details, read the public notice here https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/temporary-closure-of-roads-in-dounby-for-fancy-dress-parade-1/. Drivers are also reminded to expect some general congestion in the area of the show ground. 
• Saturday 10 August – The Meadows will close between its junction with Meadow Drive and Meadow Park from 8 am to 5pm and there will be no parking on several approach routes to the showgrounds at Bignold Park. For a full list of measures, head to https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/the-orkney-islands-council-the-meadows-kirkwall-county-show-temporary-closure-order-2024/ . The road closure on The Meadows will mean public bus services No 9 (Town Service) will take short diversions past the closure. Due to the volume of traffic in Kirkwall, there may also be delays to No 4 (Airport) throughout the day. All drivers are reminded to expect delays on and around Bignold Park Road particularly from late afternoon as folks transporting animals and large machinery head home after the show. 
• Sunday 11 August – various roads and car park in Kirkwall and St Ola will be subject to closures and parking prohibitions between 11:30am and 6pm for the Riding of the Marches. For full details head here https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/the-riding-of-the-marches-temporary-closure-of-roads-in-kirkwall-and-st-ola/ 

Road works and closures:

Moar Drive, Kirkwall 

Moar Drive in Kirkwall will close from Monday, 12 August 2024 for two weeks between its junction with Burnett Brae and Rendall Road, to enable utility connections and other development related works to be carried out. 

Surface Dressing 2024 - various locations

The surface dressing works remain underway, with a road closure from Monday 12 August on the main A961 in South Ronaldsay, between Barswick and the Sandwick Junction, for around 5 days. In addition, there is ongoing line painting and sweeping at the sites already dressed, as detailed below. 

• A966 Birsay - The Palace to cross roads (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• A967 Sandwick - Newton to Quoyloo Road (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• Brodgar Road Sandwick - A967 to Buchan Cottage (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• East Road Kirkwall - St Catherines Pl to Weyland Farm (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• Marwick/Mooney Drive Kirkwall - Helliar to Road End and full extent of Mooney Drive (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going)  
• Foreland Road Kirkwall - Roundabout to Old Scapa Road (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• Shore Road St Andrews - Groatsetter Road to Tankerness Hall Road (Surfacing dressing complete, sweeping and line markings on going) 
• A961 South Ron - Sandwick Junction to Barswick. Road closure due to start 12 August for around 5 days

Surfacing & Haunch Reconstruction  

Following the completion of the surface dressing works we will be moving onto our surfacing and haunch reconstruction works. Further information on these works will be provided in due course. 

• Ayre Road, Kirkwall: Mon 19/08/24 to Wed 21/08/24 
• Marwick Drive: Thu 22/08/24 to Tue 27/08/24 
• Back Road, St Margarets Hope: Wed 28/08/24 to Wed 04/09/24 
• A961 Burray: Thu 05/09/204 to Wed 18/09/24 
• A961 Lamb Holm: Thu 19/09/24 to Tue 08/10/24 

Holm Road (A961), Kirkwall 

To enable maintenance works to be carried out to the Mash House at the Highland Park Distillery there will be multiple short duration road closures from 15 April 2024 to early November 2024. The current plan is that the closures will be up to a maximum duration of 20 minutes with the closures being carried out at times to try and avoid ferry traffic, commuter traffic and bus services. 

A960, St Andrews & Toab  

Scottish Water works are ongoing with the possibility that there may be the need to use temporary traffic lights on the A960 between the Groatsetter Road and the Stembister Road during the next few weeks as work progresses, which will have an effect on the No3 bus service (Deerness – Tankerness) and general traffic in the area of the works.  

There will also be some work taking place on the Groatsetter Road which are also likely to cause some delays to traffic over the next couple of weeks. 

Cruise: 

Anticipated road closures for the period 8 to 18 August 2024 in relation to cruise liner visits are listed below. 

• Bridge Street and Albert Street, Kirkwall, will close between the hours of 10am and 4pm on Wednesday 14 August and again on Sunday 18 August.