Surface dressing to begin again midweek

Drivers are advised surface dressing works by Orkney Islands Council will get underway again from the middle of this week (21 – 25 May).

Work was due to take place from Monday 21 May, but due to the forecasted wet weather this has been delayed for a few days.

There will be no surface dressing on Tuesday 22 May. Work will begin on Wednesday 23 May, with surface dressing being carried out in Dounby on the A986 between the Dounby 30mph signs. Surface dressing will likely move on to the Back Road in Dounby (between the A986 and Vetquoy Road) the following day, Thursday 24 May, weather permitting.

Roads will be closed in both directions while surface dressing is being carried out, with closures in place from as early as 06:00 and as late as 18:00. Therefore the public – including secondary school pupils currently travelling into schools for exams - are reminded to check for road closures, diversions and bus service changes that could affect them. The recommended diversion for Dounby is via the A966, (Hundland Road), A965 (Stromness-Kirkwall road) and A967 (Stromness-Birsay road).

It’s expected work at each area above will take one day, weather permitting.

School transport buses will be escorted through the work sites.

Public buses will be permitted through work sites during peak hours only (before 09.30 and after 16:00). More details on bus services impacted are available below.

Roads will be closed to all other traffic, with the exception of emergency vehicles.

Regular updates will be provided throughout the programme via the 'What's New' section of the Council website, on the Council’s ‘OIC Updates’ Facebook page and on the ‘OIC Roads’ Twitter feed.

For ‘live’ bus timetable information, use the Stagecoach app – or call Stagecoach on tel 01856 870555.

Anyone with issues arising from these road works should contact the Council’s Roads Support Team on 01856 873535.

Bus services affected

The roadworks at A986 in Dounby (between the 30mph signs) taking place on Wednesday 23 May will affect Service 7 (Stromness and Kirkwall to Birsay), as follows:

The 06:34 and 07:34 services (departing Stromness) and 17:35 service (departing Kirkwall) are unaffected.

Outwith these times the following areas will not be served: Harray Road End, Harray, Dounby. There is only one service in each direction affected. The route will therefore be:

For the 13:40 departing Kirkwall: Kirkwall Travel Centre Stand 4, West Castle Street, Junction Road, Pickaquoy Road, Hatston Brae, Sunnybank Road, Old Finstown Road, Finstown, A965, Brodgar Road, A967, Twatt Crossroads, A967, Birsay Hostel, A967 Barony Mill, A966, Birsay – Earl’s Palace.

For the 14:20 departing Birsay: Birsay – Earl’s Palace, A966, A967, Barony Mill, A967 Birsay Hostel, Twatt Crossroads, A967, Brodgar Road, A965, Finstown, Old Finstown Road, Sunnybank Road, Hatston Brae, Pickaquoy Road, Great Western Road, Kirkwall Travel Centre Stand 4.

There is no impact on bus services as a result of surface dressing at Back Road, Dounby, expected to take place once works within the Dounby 30mph are completed.

Stay tuned to our 'OIC Updates' Facebook page and 'OIC Roads' Twitter feed for updates.