Roads update for week starting 28 October 2024

A summing up of road delays and closures due to road works and events underway or soon to start in the county - for the week starting Monday 28 October 2024. 

East Kirk car park closure – Saturday 26 October 

The East Kirk car park in Kirkwall (the car park containing the Guide Hall, uphill from the Council offices) will close from this Friday (25 October 2024) afternoon at 5pm, and throughout Saturday (26 October) to enable high-level survey work on the East Kirk. Folks will be able to exit the car park after 5pm on Friday via the usual one-way exit but are asked to ensure there are no vehicles left in the car park by early on Saturday morning.  

A reminder of road closures due to community events this weekend:

Ongoing 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.  

Old Finstown Road, Glaitness Road, Kirkwall

Streetlighting works are ongoing between Liberator Drive and Soulisquoy Loan, with the work expected to take around 12 weeks to complete. There will be temporary traffic signals in use for the duration of the works. There will be short delays for all traffic including the No. 9 (Town) and No. 7 (Birsay/Dounby) public bus services. As part of the traffic management for these works, there will be short delays on footways through this site of up to 15 minutes in duration. Operatives will be on hand to escort pedestrians through the site as needed. It is advised that pedestrians use the Liberator to Muddisdale Road route, where possible, in order to avoid delays. Segregated pedestrian walkways will be reinstated outside of working hours.  

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. 

Holm Road (A961), Kirkwall

Potential for multiple short duration road closures from 15 April 2024 to early November 2024 while works are carried out on Highland Park Distillery. Closures will be up to a maximum duration of 20 minutes , and carried out around ferry traffic, commuter traffic and bus services. 

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.