Roads update for week starting 8 July 2024

A summing up of closures and delays due to roadworks, events or cruise visits underway or soon to start in the county. 

Events related closures 

Kirkwall City Pipe Band parades (various dates) 

Roads in central Kirkwall are closed for upcoming Kirkwall City Pipe Band parade on Saturday 6 July. Closures will affect Albert Street from Laing Street to Broad Street; Broad Street from Albert Street to Palace Road; and Castle Street from Broad Street to the car park exit on Castle Street. Note these roads in central Kirkwall will close alternate Saturdays through to 3 August (inclusive) and on 7 September between 6:30pm and 8:30pm. Check the date of the next parade in the public notice. 

St Magnus Marathon – Sunday 7 July 

Roads will close in central Kirkwall on Sunday, 7 July 2024 between 7:30am and 11:00am, for the St Magnus Marathon. Albert Street, Bridge Street, Broad Street (from Albert Street to Palace Road); and Castle Street (from car park exit to Broad Street) will be affected. Central Kirkwall bus passengers are advised to board and disembark at the Kirkwall Travel Centre. 

Cruise 

Anticipated road closures for the week ahead in central Kirkwall between the hours of 10am and 4pm, in relation to cruise liner visits, are as follows. Please note these closures can be cancelled at short notice due to changes in confirmed passenger numbers or bad weather cancellations by liners: 

Bridge Street and Albert Street on Tuesday 9 July and 10 July. 

View anticipated closures for the season https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=9077 

Surface Dressing 2024 

Surface dressing works are underway, the approximate site locations are noted below. All works will be carried out under road closure conditions, with diversion routes being in place for affected traffic. 

Roadworks  

Holm Road (A961), Kirkwall 

To enable maintenance works to be carried out at Highland Park Distillery there will be multiple short duration road closures from now until 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. 

A960, St Andrews and Toab  

Scottish Water works are ongoing, and they may need to use temporary traffic lights on the A960 between the B9052 and the Stembister Road during the next few weeks as work progresses. This may involve short delays for the No3 bus service (Deerness – Tankerness) and to general traffic in the area. 

Moar Drive Kirkwall – July to December 

Moar Drive in Kirkwall was closed on Monday, 1 July 2024 between its junction with Burnett Brae and Rendall Road. It is hoped that the initial closure will only be in place for two weeks, with other closures when required for utility connections and other development related works. Information will be provided in advance of any future closures. 

Manse Road and Malisburgh Road, Deerness 

Malisburgh Road and Manse Road (between the property West Manse and B9050), Deerness, will close when required between Tuesday, 2 July 2024 to Tuesday, 9 July 2024 to enable cable works. 

For more information on roadworks in Orkney please visit www.orkney.gov.uk/roadworks