Roads update for week starting 31 March 2025

A summing up of road delays and closures due to road works, cruise visits and events - for the week starting Monday 31 March 2025. 

Starting in the coming week:  

St Catherines Place, Kirkwall 

OIC will be carrying out surfacing works on St Catherines Place, Kirkwall, from Tuesday 1 April 2025 with the work expected to take around two weeks to complete. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions. There is no impact on public buses. A signed diversion will be in place via Junction Road. 

Broad Street for surveys on St Magnus Cathedral 

Broad Street in Kirkwall may be single lane at times on Tuesday 1 April (weather dependent) to allow high level surveys via crane to be carried out on St. Magnus Cathedral – to the West Front and North Side. Drivers should expect possible delays between 6am and 5pm. The Cathedral will remain open to the public, with access via the Bishop’s door (disabled door) on the South (Palace Road) side. Access to the graveyard will be restricted to the South side, with barriers in place on the North side. This is a routine survey to check the state of the Cathedral and to tend usually inaccessible areas, and to help us plan for its upkeep, as well as carry out any urgent remedial work that might be required to this extraordinary historical building. The last survey of the Northside was in 2018. Carrying the checks out with the use of a crane allows us to have someone in place to make immediate repairs as needed – something not possible with drone-based surveys. 

Ongoing closures and delays:  

Previously publicised works at Graemeshall (Holm) and Outertown (Stromness) will be completed by end of Friday 28 March. 

Junction Road, Kirkwall  

The closure on Junction Road outside the Albert Hotel is expected to be lifted by close of the day on Monday 31 March.  A signed diversion is meantime in place for motorists and buses, 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. 

Looking further ahead:   

Kirkwall Slab Repairs 

Slab repair works are currently planned to start in central Kirkwall from Monday 7 April 2025, for around three weeks. Road closures will be required on Albert Street, Bridge Street, Victoria Street and Main Street at different stages. Further information on the dates of the various road closures will be provided prior to the works commencing. 

Gorseness Road, Rendall 

From Monday 7 April 2025 OIC will be carrying out essential drainage works at Gorseness Road, Rendall. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions and will take place during the school holidays. 

Haybrake Road, South Ronaldsay 

From Monday 7 April 2025 OIC will be carrying out culvert repairs on the Haybrake Road, South Ronaldsay. Works are expected to take around a week to complete and will be carried out under road closure conditions. 

Grainshore Road, Kirkwall 

From Monday 14 April 2025 OIC will be carrying out surfacing/haunch works on Grainshore Road, Kirkwall. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions and are expected to take around a week to  complete. The closure will affect cruise liner buses, but public buses including the X1 won’t be impacted. 

 Work Road, Kirkwall  

From 28 April, OIC will be carrying out surfacing works on Work Road, Kirkwall, between the  Craigiefield junction and Weyland Farm, for approximately one week. Works will be under road closure conditions and will affect the No 9 Kirkwall Town bus service. (The No 9 Town Service bus will not cover Work Road, Craigiefield and Carness Road – it will divert after Orkney College to Islands View Road via Moar Drive).  

 Pipersquoy Road, Kirkwall  

From Thursday 24 April 2025, SSEN will carrying out maintenance to their substation on Pipersquoy Road, Kirkwall. Works will be completed under road closure conditions and are expected to take just one day to complete - however the work is weather dependent so the road closure date may change. The works will have an effect on the Number 9 bus service (Kirkwall Town service). No 9 Town Service bus will go via Holm Branch Road onto Holm Road and wait at the top Quoybanks Crescent.  

Stromness Slab Repairs

Slab repair works in central Stromness are currently planned to start from Monday 28 April 2025, with the works expected to take around three weeks to complete, carried out under road closure in stages. The works will affect Alfred Street, Dundas Street, Graham Place, John Street, Ness Road, South End and Victoria Street. Further information on the dates of the various road closures will be provided prior to work starting. 

Cromwell Road, Kirkwall 

From Monday 5 May 2025 OIC will be carrying out surfacing /haunch works on Cromwell Road, Kirkwall between the Coastguard station and Islands View Road junction. Works are expected to take around two weeks to complete and will be under road closure conditions. The closure will impact the Number 9 bus service (Kirkwall Town service). Further information to follow closer to the beginning of the works. This closure will cause a significant diversion/delay to the No9 Town Service bus - further details to follow. 

Junction Rd/New Scapa Rd

Scottish Water are planning to carry out works to repair manholes covers (date TBC) in various areas along Junction Road/ New Scapa Rd. The works will be mainly carried out under road closure conditions. Further information will be supplied in due course.