Roads update for week starting 18 March 2024

A summing up of road works underway or soon to start in the county - for week starting Monday 18 March 2024.

Road closures in central Kirkwall for high level building surveys - Palace Road

Palace Road will be closed between its junctions with Dundas Crescent and Watergate this Sunday 17 March 2024 between 07:00 and 18:00, to enable high level surveys of the cathedral to be carried out. As the work is weather dependant there is the possibility that the works may be cancelled at short notice. Closures will affect public bus services No. 9 (Town Service) and No. 4 (Airport service). Pedestrian access will still be available on Palace Road and the Cathedral’s Sunday services will go ahead as planned.

This is part of routine high-level surveys of historic buildings in central Kirkwall, as weather allows, throughout March and April. This will entail closures at times on sections of Broad Street, Broad Street Street car park; the Council Offices Car Park; East Kirk Car Park; Mill Street, Palace Road; School Place; and Watergate. Read the full public notice and our press release for more background.

A965 Finstown village and A966 near Firth School - new speed limits

A reminder to motorists that the 30mph zone in Finstown now extends to the Atlantis Lodges on the A965 (main Stromness to Kirkwall road, as you head towards Kirkwall).

There are also new variable 20mph speed limits on the A966 (main road to Evie) in the vicinity of Firth school.

These new speed limits are now enforceable by police, and have been put in place in response to community concerns - so please heed them.

A965, B9055 (Brodgar Road) to Stenness Village & Stenness Village to A964

Work to repair areas of carriageway is ongoing, with temporary traffic lights in place 24 hours a day, and delays to all traffic including public buses, the X1 bus service by Stagecoach and school transport. Works are expected to last until the end of March.

A966 near Hammar Road junction

Work to install a safety barrier on top of a retaining wall is planned to start on Monday 18 March 2024 and is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic lights with delays to traffic including school transport and the Number 6 bus service.

Laing Street, Kirkwall

Work to install new utility services to the Old Library building are ongoing, with Laing Street  closed to all traffic. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

Stromness Slab Repairs

The five week programme of slab repair works in Stromness is ongoing. The work will all be carried out under road closure conditions, with roads being opened to traffic overnight and at the weekends. Pedestrian access should be maintained at all times, essential access for deliveries will be maintained where possible and drivers should speak to site staff to arrange this. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

• Phase 1 – John Street from North End Road to E Flett Butchers. (Completed 8 March)
• Phase 2 – From E Flett Butchers, John Street to No 16 Victoria Street. (Completed 13 March)
• Phase 3 – From No 16 Victoria Street to Church Road. (Started 14 March)
• Phase 4 – From Church Road to Hellihole.
• Phase 5 – from Hellihole to Ness Road.

A960, St Andrews and Toab

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

Groatsetter Road and Shore Road, Tankerness

Scottish Water works will be moving to the Groatsetter Road and Shore Road in April 2024 which will require road closures on both roads which will have an impact on all local traffic and the bus services. It is currently planned that works will start on Groatsetter Road on 1 April 2024 under road closure conditions, the work on Shore Road is planned to be carried out between 8 & 14 April 2024 again under road closure conditions which will have an impact on the No3 Deerness bus service. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

Looking ahead:

• Kirkwall Slab Repairs – works are currently planned to start during week commencing Monday 8 April 2024.
• A964 bends at Scapa Distillery and Smoogro Road to Orphir Village (carriageway repairs) – currently planned to start during April 2024.
• A966 Evie, near Evie Telephone Exchange – drainage maintenance.