Roads update - week starting 19 December

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 19 December.

The current works by Openreach on the A964 (Old Scapa Road) will continue into early next week. Three way traffic signals are in place with slight delays for all traffic including school transport and/or public buses (Service 2 – Houton and Service 9 Kirkwall Town).

The zebra crossing outside the Balfour Hospital on New Scapa Road is closed while poles are replaced - traffic is being controlled by temporary traffic signals when required and works are expected to be completed later in the week (week starting 19 December).

Due to the current severe weather, the road works on Brodgar Road (B9055) have been delayed. Phase 3 (with closures from Buckan Cottage to Lyking Road) is now expected to restart on Monday 19 December and take around three days to complete. Signed diversion routes are in place via Harray and Dounby (the A986) or A967 Sandwick Road, and at times via the Lyking Road. These are relatively lengthy diversions so drivers should allow extra time for their journeys. The works will impact on public bus Service 8 (Quoyloo service) - buses will not serve Brodgar Road and will follow the signed diversions. The revised schedule below is indicative and subject to weather and resourcing:

• Phase 1 layby at Standing Stones of Stenness to Ring of Brodgar car park – complete
• Phase 2 Ring of Brodgar car park to access to Buckan Cottage – complete.
• Phase 3 Buckan to Lyking Road – restarting Monday 19 December for around three days.
• Phase 4 Lyking Road to A967 – complete

Work is ongoing on the Harray Road (A986) to fix a collapsed culvert which has been causing flooding between Grimeston Road and Refuge Corner. Steel-plating in place over the road until the crews return to finish the culvert replacement, at which point temporary traffic lights will be reinstated. Drivers are asked to heed any speed signs for the safety of workers exposed to traffic. There will be slight delays for public bus Service 7 (Birsay-Dounby).

Work by Scottish Water is ongoing on Glaitness Road, Kirkwall, with temporary traffic lights in place.

Work on the retaining wall at the junction of Hammar Road and the A966 (the main Finstown-Tingwall-Evie road) is underway with work expected to take until the end of February 2023 to complete. Traffic delays including delays to Bus Service 7 will be slightly longer as the area covered by traffic lights has been extended to enable the work to be carried safely. Motorists are also reminded the road width is now significantly narrower – please be mindful of these changes and to drive accordingly and observe any speed signs which are there for everyone’s protection.

Looking ahead:

Streetlighting and footway resurfacing are planned for Scapa Crescent between 4 January and 5 April. Access and traffic management details will be advised when available and residents have been notified.

Work is planned to take place on the Yesnaby Road between 4 and 6 January 2023, with the road being closed for the duration. Delays to affected properties will be minimised when possible.

Resurfacing works on the Holm Road/Easdale Loan junction is planned to start on 9 January 2023, for around four days. This will see Easdale Loan being closed to through traffic and temporary traffic lights in place. The No 9 Town service will experience minor delays, and there will be a short diversion for the No 4 Airport bus, but passengers will be able to pick the bus up at both the top or the bottom of Easdale Loan.

Work is due to take place on Quoyloo Road between West Bain and Kierfiold Farm from 16 to 20 January under road closure conditions, a signed diversion route will be in place for the duration of the work on site.

The Openreach works on the Yinstay Road, Tankerness, have been rescheduled to commence on 12 January 2023 with completion still hopefully by 21 January 2023. Further information on access during the work will be available shortly.