Roads update for week starting 16 September 2024

A summing up of road delays and closures due to works and events, underway or soon to start in the county - for the week starting Monday 16 September 2024. 

Cruise update 

Anticipated road closures in Kirkwall for the week ahead in relation to cruise liner visits are as follows. Please note this information may change at short notice due to bad weather or as passenger numbers are confirmed. 

Road works, closures and delays: 

Junction Road, Kirkwall 

Junction Road will be closed outside the Albert Hotel (between its junctions with the Albert Street car park and Burnmouth Road), from Monday 16 September 2024, for approximately six months as building works are carried out on the Albert Hotel. A signed diversion for motorists and buses will be in place via Ayre Road, Borough Road (past the Police Station) and Great Western Road. Drivers are advised to keep to the diversions as much as possible and avoid using West Castle Street due to bus traffic. Folks wishing to use the Albert Street car park will need to approach via the Kiln Corner roundabout. 

Berstane Road, Kirkwall 

Berstane Road, Kirkwall will close between its junctions with The Meadows and Springfield Drive, when required, from Monday 16 September to 4 October 2024 for SSEN works. Traffic signs will be erected to indicate when the road is closed. No impact on public buses. 

Germiston Road, Orphir 

Germiston Road will be closed between Nisthouse and Eastaben Farm until 20 September to enable works around the bridge over the Burn of Lyradale. Currently we expect the works to be completed by Friday 20 September 2024. No public buses affected. 

Back Road, St Margarets Hope - Monday 16 September to Monday 23 September (reconstruction works) 

Back Road will be closed for reconstruction works. The X1 public bus and school transport bus #33 will be affected – buses won’t be able to serve Back Road/Church Road and will travel via St Margarets Road (the new road past Braeburn Court supported accommodation) instead in both directions. Passengers can meet the buses at Cromarty Square or just downhill from the Back Road/Church Street junction. 

Old Finstown Road, Glaitness Road, Kirkwall 

Streetlighting works are planned between Liberator Drive and Soulisquoy Loan, from Monday 23 September 2024 for around 12 weeks. There will be temporary traffic signals in use for the duration of the works. There will be short delays for all traffic including the No. 9 (Town) and No. 7 (Birsay/Dounby) public bus services. 

Ongoing works: 

Holm Road (A961), Kirkwall - multiple short duration road closures from 15 April 2024 to early November 2024 while works are carried out on Highland Park Distillery. Closures will be up to a maximum duration of 20 minutes , and carried out around 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. 

Clay Loan / Manse Lane, Kirkwall 

Manse Lane will be closed from Monday 19 August 2024 for around 4 weeks to enable works to replace a sub-station at the junction with Manse Road and Clay Loan to be replaced. As part of the works there will also be works being carried out on Clay Loan which will involve the road being narrowed slightly or for temporary traffic signals to be used as and when required. 

Looking further ahead: