Roads update for week starting 2 December 2024

A summing up of road closures and delays due to works and events - for the week starting 2 December 2024. 

Festive Tree lighting events 

There will be road closures from next week, in Kirkwall, Dounby and St Margaret’s Hope, for Christmas tree lighting events: 

• St Margarets Hope: Cromarty Square will close on Friday, 29 November 2024, between 6pm and 8pm. 
• Kirkwall: Closures on Saturday, 30 November 2024, between 6pm and 6:45pm affecting Albert Street, Broad Street; Castle Street; Palace Road, Victoria Street and a one way on Tankerness Lane. The No4 Airport bus will not be able to operate via Broad Street during the closure 
• Dounby: Crossroads will close on Friday 6 December Friday, 6 December 2024, between 6pm and 8pm please note the updated road closures: A986 from Junction House to ASDA access, Vetquoy Road (B9057) between Back Road and A986 and Hillside Road (B9057) between Market Green and A986. 

For more details, read the public notice at The Orkney Islands Council (Christmas Tree Lighting Events) (Temporary Closure) Order 2024 

Road works closures and delays:  

A966, Skiddy Road to Gorseness Road, Rendall

Road reconstruction works commenced on Monday 30 September and are currently expected to be completed during week commencing Monday 16 December 2024. Work will be carried out under traffic lights and temporary 30mph speed limits.  

Junction Road, Kirkwall

Junction Road will be closed outside the Albert Hotel (between its junctions with the Albert Street car park and Burnmouth Road), as needed 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. 

A965 New Finstown Sub-Station, Firth

There will be temporary traffic signals in place at times from Tuesday 19 November 2024 to enable the removal of a section of wall and from a temporary site access to the site of the new Finstown sub-station. Following on from this there will be temporary traffic control in place at times to enable the safe delivery of mechanical plant to site over the next couple of weeks. The traffic controls will have an effect on all vehicles in the area with some delays expected. 

Looking further ahead:   

• Junction Road and Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall - Road closures and temporary traffic signals in connection with building works  
• Pier Road, St Margaret’s Hope – Localised reconstruction, details of traffic management TBC. 
• King Street, Kirkwall - Reconstruction works details TBC