Roads update for week starting 22 April 2024

An update of road closures and delays due to roadworks, events and cruise in the county:

Brodgar Road road closure

The B9055 (Brodgar Road) will close from the Standing Stones of Stenness lay-by up to the property of Bridgend, to enable repairs on the bridge between the Harray and Stenness Lochs following a recent accident - with a significant detour for drivers and impacts on some public bus services.

Works are expected to start from Wednesday 24 April 2024 and continue until Friday 3 May 2024. The closure will remain in place 24/7 for duration of the works.

As a result of the above road closure, the public bus services 8S and X1 will not be able to operate along the Brodgar Road (or pass the Standing Stones of Stenness and Ring of Brodgar). The buses will divert to the A967 (Sandwick Road) along the Lyking Road with the alternative drop off and pick up point for these sites at the Lyking Road / B9055 Brodgar Road junction (approximately a 1.5 mile walk to the Ring of Brodgar).

For road safety reasons, to avoid passengers crossing the road, the buses will not stop at the A965 / Brodgar Junction, other than on the return journey from Stromness.

Please note, while the Standing Stones of Stenness car park will remain open for cars to use, it is not suitable for vehicles above transit van size to turn in, therefore motor homes, caravans and large campervans should avoid the A965 end of Brodgar Road while these works are underway.

A964 between Smoogro Road to Orphir Village

Works started on 12 April 2024 to address defects and on a 2 mile stretch of the A964 between the 30mph signs on the east (Kirkwall) side of Orphir village and the junction with Smoogro Road. Work is expected to take several weeks to complete and at times will involve full but short duration road closures – however work will mostly be carried out under traffic lights, with some delays to all traffic including the No 2 Houton Ferry bus service. Smoogro Road will remain open for use by vehicles throughout the works.

Kirkwall Slab Repairs

Kirkwall slab repairs are ongoing, with crews moving to Victoria Street from Monday 22 April for around a week, which will complete the three week programme. There will be road closures in place whilst works are ongoing. Pedestrian access will be maintained. It’s planned to open up affected sections of road at nights and the weekends where possible. Delivery drivers should speak to site foreperson to arrange access. Residents should present waste and recycling as usual.

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 school transport, ferry traffic, commuter traffic and bus services.

A960, St Andrews and Toab 

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

Looking Ahead:

Surface Dressing 2024

We will be carrying out some surface dressing related works this year between mid May and early August. Initially between mid May and mid June we will be carrying out preparatory works with the actual surfacing dressing works currently planned to commence on Monday 24 June 2024, the approximate site location are as noted below. Further detail of traffic management to be used and dates for the various sites will be provided in due course. 

• A966, Birsay
• Hundland Road, Birsay
• Netherbrough Road, Harray
• Stoneyhill Road, Harray  
• East Road, Kirkwall
• Foreland Road, Kirkwall
• Marwick Drive, Kirkwall
• Mooney Drive, Kirkwall
• Germistion Road, Orphir
• A967, Sandwick
• Brodgar Road, Sandwick
• Swartland Road, Sandwick
• A961, South Ronaldsay
• Shore Road, St Andrews
• Garson Road, Stromness