Roads update for week starting 24 February 2025

A summing up of road delays and closures due to building works, road works, or events - the for week starting Monday 24 February 2025.

Starting soon: 

A961, St Ola

From Monday 24 February, Scottish Water will be carrying out repairs to the water tank between Oaklee and St Clair Farm. The works will be carried out under temporary two-way traffic lights and are expected to take around two weeks to complete.

Ongoing road works

King Street, Kirkwall

Reconstruction works on King Street started on Monday 17 February 2025 and are expected to take around five weeks to complete. The road will be closed between School Place and Mill Street for the duration of the works. There will be limited access to the King Street car park at the Council offices (next door to the former King Street dental clinic) and the car park at No 9 King Street, with the car parks also having to be closed during some phases of the work.

In more detail:

King Street will be closed for road works over the next several weeks, which will impact access to some of the car parks near the Strynd Nursery and Council offices at School Place in Kirkwall.

We’ll have signage up at the top of School Place advising the road is ‘Access Only’ for residents and for access to the car parks on King Street.

Please note car parks will close at times – further details below.

You won’t be able to get to Mill Street (leading to the garden centre and Willow Road) from School Place and King Street – you will need to come from the opposite (Queen Street) direction.

Works are expected to take around five weeks to complete, in four ‘phases’ and will involve closures at certain stages of car parks as follows:

• The King Street car park (next to the old dental clinic) - you will be able to access this car park from the uphill end of King Street/School Place however the car park will be closed for Phase 2 of the works (dates TBC closer to the time). You won’t be able to continue out the other side of the road works.
• The car park at 9 King Street (opposite the old dental clinic) - you will be able to access this car park from the uphill end of King Street/School Place however this car park will be closed for Phase 4 of the works (dates TBC closer to the time). You won’t be able to continue out the other side of the road works.

Prior notice of closures of the King Street car parks will be posted on the Council’s Facebook page the day prior to closures.

Holm Branch Road, Kirkwall

As of Monday 17th February 2025, Scottish Water will be replacing manhole covers along the Holm Branch Road. Works will be carried out under traffic lights, and are expected to take around a week to complete.

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.

Burnett Brae, Kirkwall

As of Monday 13 January 2025, Orkney Builders (Contractors) Ltd. have closed Burnett Brae, Kirkwall, to enable them to lay a new section of water main and supply to the new nursery, with the works expected to take around seven weeks to complete.

Looking further ahead: 

Pickaquoy Road – SSEN are planning to carry out some cable investigation works on Pickaquoy Road between Great Western Road and Junction Road starting 10 March 2025,and are expected to take a couple of weeks with the works being carried out under temporary traffic signals.

Junction Rd/New Scapa Rd - SW are planning to carry out works to repair manholes covers on Various areas along Junction Road/ New Scapa Rd in early April 2025. The works will be mainly carried out under road closure conditions, further information to follow nearer the time.