Roads update for week starting 27 January 2025

A summing up of road delays and closures due to road works underway or soon to start in the county - for the week starting Monday 27 January 2025.

Road works closures and delays: 

Pier Road, St Margaret’s Hope

Localised reconstruction works started on Monday 20 January 2025 and are expected take around three weeks to complete, the work is being carried out under temporary traffic signals with some areas of the works also being carried out under road closure conditions, the works have been planned to  coincide with Pentland Ferries refit period as far as possible. Delays will be kept to a minimum where and when this is possible. The X1 public bus service will not be able to serve Pier Road when closures are required – Buses will continue run to timetable with a short wait at Cromarty Square.

King Street, Kirkwall

Reconstruction works are planned to start on Monday 17 February 2025 and are expected to take around 5 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.

Junction Road, Kirkwall near Albert Hotel

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

Works recommenced on the construction of the access to the new Finstown sub-station site on Wednesday 8 January 2025 with the works now planned to take around four weeks to complete. As before the works will be carried out under temporary traffic signals with will result in delays to traffic.

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 six weeks to complete.

Looking further ahead:

A966, Skiddy Road to Gorseness Road (Tingwal Road), Rendall: The next phase of the work is expected to start on Monday 17 March 2025 and are expected to take around three weeks to complete. To enable this area of works to be completed the junction of the Skiddy Road with the A966 will be closed for the duration of the work, with the works on the A966 being carried out under traffic lights with temporary 30mph speed limit also being in place for the duration of the work.