Roads update for week starting 7 October 2024

A summing up of closures and delays due to road works, community evens and cruise – for the week starting Monday 7 October 2024 

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 18 November. Work will be carried out under traffic lights and temporary 30mph speed limits.  

A961 Churchill Barriers   

General maintenance works started on the Churchill Barriers on Monday 23 September 2024 and are expected to take around 4 weeks to complete. There will be traffic management in place while workers are on site including a reduced speed limit and speed reduction measures. Short delays to traffic including the X1 public bus service. 

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.  

Back Road, Stromness

Streetlight and drainage repair works are underway on Back Road, Stromness, just outside the Royal Mail sorting office. Traffic lights are in place and work is expected to finish by mid October. 

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.
• Stromness Slab Repairs - Works are currently planned to carry out slab repairs from John Street to Hellihole Road from 21 October 2024, with the works taking approximately 4 weeks to complete. The works will be carried out under road closure conditions. 
• Kirkwall Slab Repairs - Slab repairs for Kirkwall are also planned, further information on the works and required road closures will be advised once the information is available. 
• King Street, Kirkwall - Reconstruction works from Monday 25 November to Friday 20 December. Details TBC. 

Upcoming delays/closures for community events  

Closure of Roads for Kirkwall BID Halloween Parade - Saturday 26 October 

Roads in central Kirkwall will close on Saturday 26 October between 12:45pm and 3:45pm for the Kirkwall BID Halloween Parade. Roads and car parks affected are Albert Street; Bridge Street; Broad Street; Broad Street car park; Castle Street (from car park exit to Broad Street); Laing Street; Palace Road (from Watergate to Broad Street); Tankerness lane (from Broad Street to end of one way section); Victoria Road (from Watergate to Victoria Street); and Victoria Street. No 9 Town Service and No 4 Airport bus impacted - passengers for central Kirkwall are advised to board/disembark outwith the closures. 

Closure of Roads in Stromness for Orktoberfest Procession - Saturday 26 October   

Roads in central Stromness will close on Saturday 26 October between 4:15pm and 7:15pm for the Orktoberfest torchlit procession. Roads affected are Alfred Street; Church Road; Dundas Street; Ferry Road (from Stromness Ferry Terminal car park exit to Victoria Street); Graham Place; John Street (from No 27 John Street to Victoria Street); Ness Road; South End; and Victoria Street.