Roads update for week starting 13 November 2023

A summing up of road closures and delays due to road works and events - for week starting Monday 13 November 2023.

Road works summary:

A961 Churchill Barriers

Work to replace fence posts on the barriers have started and are expected to take a few weeks to complete. Traffic will be controlled with priority signage and speed reduction measures with delays to traffic and the X1 (Stromness to St Margaret’s Hope) bus service. Where possible works are taking place outwith school transport times.

A966 Gorseness Road (Tingwall end) to Woodwick Road

Works are planned to start during week starting 13 November 2023 to repair areas of the carriageway. Works will be carried out under temporary traffic signals and are expected to take approximately four weeks to complete - with some delays to traffic including the No 6 (Tingwall / Birsay) bus service.

A960 Tankerness Hall Road to Groatsetter Road

Works are expected to be complete and traffic management removed early on in the week starting 13 November. The works are being carried out under temporary traffic signals with some delays to all traffic including the No 3 (Deerness) bus service.

B9050 Deerness

Work to replace the existing streetlights on the B9050 within the 40mph speed limit area started on 1 November 2023 and are currently programmed to take around 4 weeks to complete. Traffic is currently being controlled under priority signage but there may be times when temporary traffic signals may be used. Some delays to traffic and the No 3 (Deerness) bus service.

Laing Street, Kirkwall

Laing Street will be closed daily between 07:30 and 17:00 from Monday 6 November 2023 for approximately four weeks to enable building works on the Old Library to be carried out. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

Festive Lighting Installation - various locations

The festive lighting installation in Kirkwall, St Margaret’s Hope and Stromness has been delayed and will now be carried out during week starting 13 November 2023, with each area expected to be completed within one day or within the hours stated for Broad Street, Kirkwall below.

• Cromarty Square, St Margaret’s Hope, to be carried out during the working day under road closure conditions avoiding school times, bus and ferry services.
• Victoria Street and Graham Place, Stromness, work will take place during the working day where there will be numerous short duration road closures.
• Broad Street, Kirkwall, work is planned to take place between 18:00 and 22:00 under road closure conditions, access will be maintained for the No 4 bus services (Airport) with some minor delays.
• Albert Street and Bridge Street, Kirkwall, work will be carried out during the working day under road closure conditions.
• Main Street and Victoria Street, Kirkwall, Work will be carried out during the working day under road closure conditions.

Various locations (traffic counters)

Temporary traffic lights will be in place during week starting 13 November to allow traffic counters to be installed at various points in the following areas:

• Forelands Road, Kirkwall
• Ferry Road, Stromness
• Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall
• Burray village (School Corner)

A960, St Andrews & Toab 

Scottish Water works are still ongoing but will be mainly off A960 and in fields during the next week or so.

A966 Evie, near Evie Telephone Exchange

Crews are off site at the moment, but will restart when design work is completed. This will involve some delays to the No 6 (Tingwall) bus service.

Looking Ahead:

• A965 B9055 (Brodger Road) to Stenness Village (carriageway reconstruction) - currently scheduled to start December 2023
• A961 Burray Village (carriageway reconstruction) - to be programmed
• A964 bends at Scapa Distillery and Smoogro Road to Orphir Village (carriageway reconstruction) - to be programmed

Events

Remembrance Sunday (12 November)

There will be road closures in central Kirkwall on Sunday 12 November between 10am and 1pm to enable a Remembrance Day service and wreath laying ceremony in Broad Street, Kirkwall. Roads affected are Albert Street, Broad Street, Broad Street car park, Castle Street, Junction Road (Pickaquoy Road to the entrance to Castle Street car park), Palace Road, Tankerness Lane, Victoria Street, Watergate, and West Tankerness Lane. Full details here: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=8236