Roads works update for week starting 16 January

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 16 January.

Firstly, a heads up for motorists of planned works by OpenReach on the main A965 through Finstown. The works take place in stages on the stretch between Old Finstown Road and The Pomona, with traffic lights in place. This will mean slight delays for all traffic including public buses. Works are expected to get underway on Monday 16 January, and to last for around 4 weeks.

Scottish Water are currently planning to close the Groatsetter Road and Newark Road, Tankerness from 16 January to 3 February to lay a new water main, a signed diversion route will be provided via the A960, Churchyard Road and Shore Road for the duration of the work.

Work on Quoyloo Road between West Bain and Kierfiold Farm has been rescheduled to take place from 16 to 23 January under road closure conditions. A signed diversion route will be in place.

Streetlighting and footway resurfacing are planned for Scapa Crescent between 16 January and 5 April. The work will be carried out using a variety of traffic management which will include road closures at times.

The current resurfacing works on the Holm Road/Easdale Loan junction will be completed by the end of today, Friday 13 January. (Meantime, Easdale Loan is closed to through traffic and temporary traffic lights are in place on Holm Road). The No 9 Town service will experience minor delays, and there is a short diversion for the No 4 Airport bus, but passengers can pick the bus up at both the top or the bottom of Easdale Loan.)

The collapsed culvert on the Harray Road (A986) is currently covered by steel plates while replacement options are being investigated. Further information will be provided in due course once replacement works are programmed.

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.

Work on Yesnaby Road has been rescheduled to take place between 23 and 27 January 2023, with the road being closed for the duration. Delays to affected properties will be minimised when possible.

Looking ahead:

The Openreach works on the Yinstay Road, Tankerness, have been rescheduled to commence on 17 February 2023 with completion currently planned for 17 May 2023. Access will be maintained for school transport.