Roads update for week starting 29 April 2024

An update of road closures and delays due to roadworks, events and cruise in the county - for the week starting Monday 29 April 2024:

Events:

Stromness RNLI parade - Sunday 5 May

The following roads in Stromness will be closed between the hours of 13.00 to 17:00 on Sunday 5 May, for the Stromness RNLI parade :

• Ferry Road, from the exit from the Ferry Terminal car park to Victoria Street
• John Street, from property No 27 to Victoria Street
• Church Rd
• Alfred Street
• Victoria Street
• Dundas Street
• Graham Place
• Ness Road
• Back Road, Wellpark access to Ness Road

Road works and utilities:

Brodgar Road road closure

The B9055 (Brodgar Road) is closed 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 started Wednesday 24 April 2024 and are expected to continue until Friday 3 May 2024. The closure will remain in place 24/7 for duration of the works.

The signed diversion for motorists is via the A967 (that’s the main Stomness to Birsay road) to the north end of Brodgar Road.

During the works, 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 the historic 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.

More details in our previous press release, here.

A964 between Smoogro Road to Orphir Village

Works started on 12 April 2024 to address defects and on a two 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.

Holm Road (A961), Kirkwall

To enable maintenance works 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.

Kirkwall Slab Repairs

Kirkwall slab repairs are ongoing in Victoria Street, with closures for vehicles, and are expected to finish by 3 May, which will complete the three week programme of repairs. Pedestrian access is being maintained. Affected sections of road will open 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.

A960, St Andrews and Toab 

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

Holland Road, Firth

Openreach plan to be working on Holland Rd in Firth from Wednesday, 01 May 2024 to Thursday, 02 May 2024, with a closure of Holland Road when required.

Whitechapel Lane, Kirkwall

Whitechapel Lane will close from 1 May 2024 to 31 December 2024, between Victoria Street and Junction Road, as needed for property building works. View the traffic order here.

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

Cruise

No planned road closures in relation to cruise liner visits for the week ahead.