Orkney Islands Council

03/22/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/22/2024 02:34

Roads update for week starting 25 March 2024

A summing up of road works underway or soon to start in the county - for the week starting Monday 25 March 2024.

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.

A966 near Hammar Road junction

Work to install a new barrier on top of the retaining wall started on Monday 18 March 2024 and is expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. Traffic will be controlled by temporary traffic lights - short delays to traffic including school transport and the Number 6 bus service.

Groatsetter Road & Shore Road, Tankerness

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) 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 bus service (Deerness) 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 bus service (Deerness). 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.

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, 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 8 March 2024
Phase 2 - From E Flett Butchers, John Street to No 16 Victoria Street. Completed 13 March 2024
Phase 3 - From No 16 Victoria Street to Church Road. Completed
Phase 4 - From Church Road to Hellihole. Underway.
Phase 5 - from Hellihole to Ness Road.

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.
  • A964 bends at Scapa Distillery and Smoogro Road to Orphir Village (carriageway repairs) - currently planned later this month.
  • A966 Evie, near Evie Telephone Exchange - Drainage maintenance.