Roads update for week starting Monday 1 April

A summing up of road works underway or soon to start in the county - for the week starting Monday 1 April 2024.

First up a few reminders:

‘First hour free’ parking ends this Sunday 31 March. From Monday (1 April), you'll need to purchase a ticket in our ‘pay and display’ car parks. For more information read the full press release https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=9057

And for those who use bus services, remember timetables will change on Monday 1 April, and changes to Stands at Kirkwall Travel Centre too – For more information read our press release: https://www.orkney.gov.uk/News?postid=9074

Road works, closures and delays:

A965, Stenness Village to A964

Works are ongoing to repair areas of carriageway. All works being carried out using temporary traffic signals (in place 24 hours a day) - short delays to all traffic including school transport and the X1 bus service. This work is expected to be completed in coming days.

Groatsetter Road & Shore Road, Tankerness - road closures

Scottish Water will be working on Groatsetter Road and Shore Road in April 2024, under road closure conditions, affecting all local traffic and the No 3 Deerness via Tankerness bus service. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

The work on Groatsetter Road is expected to start on 1 April 2024, near its junction with A960 and also near the junction with Shore Road – both under road closure conditions. There will be three way traffic lights in place on the A960 (airport road) at the Groatsetter Road junction, so drivers should allow extra time for their journey. The A960 and Shore Road will remain open for this phase of the works. The No 3 Deerness via Tankerness bus service will divert its route from Shore Road at Churchyard Road (Tankerness Hall) to avoid Groatsetter Road.

Work on Shore Road in the vicinity of its junction with Groatsetter Road is planned to take place 11 and 12 April 2024, under road closure conditions, and will affect the No 3 Deerness via Tankerness bus service. During these works, the bus will go into Tankerness via Tankerness Hall Road (airport side) as far as the junction with Shore Road (near Shelia Fleet Kirk Gallery and Cafe) and turn there, returning to the A960 the same way it came. It will not be able to serve Shore Road or Groatsetter Road.

A964 bends at Scapa Distillery

Reconstruction work at the bend opposite access to Scapa Distillery is planned to start during the week commencing 1 April. Work will be carried out under traffic lights with short delays for all traffic including No 2 Houton Ferry bus service. Work is expected to take around two weeks to complete.

Laing Street, Kirkwall

Laing Street is closed to all traffic to enable new utility services to the Old Library building - residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

Stromness Slab Repairs

Slab repair works in Stromness are ongoing, and now into the final phase between Hellihole and Ness Road, with road closures during the day. Pedestrian access should be maintained at all times, and essential access for deliveries will be maintained where possible (drivers should speak to site staff to arrange this). Roads affected will be opened to traffic overnight and at the weekends. Residents should present their recycling / waste bins as normal for collection.

• Phase 1 – John Street from North End Road to E Flett Butchers. Completed.
• Phase 2 – From E Flett Butchers, John Street to No 16 Victoria Street. Completed.
• Phase 3 – From No 16 Victoria Street to Church Road. Completed.
• Phase 4 – From Church Road to Hellihole. Completed.
• Phase 5 – from Hellihole to Ness Road. Underway and expected to finish 10 April.

A960, St Andrews and Toab

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

Looking Ahead:

Kirkwall Slab Repairs

Works are currently planned to start during week commencing Monday 8 April 2024, for a duration of three weeks. There will be road closures in place whilst works are ongoing. Pedestrian access will be maintained. It’s planned to open up affected sections of road 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.

• Week 1 – Bridge Street to the bottom of Laing Street – starting 8 April
• Week 2 – The bottom of Laing Street to Broad Street– Starting 15 April
• Week 3 – Victoria Street – Starting 22 April

A964 between Smoogro Road to Orphir Village

Carriageway repairs are planned to start later in April (following completion of work at Scapa Distillery bends), on the A964 at Orphir. Carriageway repairs to address defects and potholes will take place on the 2 mile stretch between the 30mph signs on the east (Kirkwall) side of Orphir village and the junction with Smoogroo 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.

Looking further ahead:

A966 Evie, near Evie Telephone Exchange – Drainage maintenance. Yet to be programmed.