Road works update for week starting Monday 29 May 2023

A roundup of works underway or soon to start around Orkney, for the week starting Monday 29 May 2023.

Work to repair the collapsed culvert on the Harray Road (A986) is currently planned to start in mid-July, to enable the work to be carried out in safety the work will be carried out under road closure conditions. A further update will be provided closer to the work starting on site.

Streetlighting and footway resurfacing is currently underway on Scapa Crescent and are expected to continue into early July. Access to properties is being maintained. The work will be carried out using a variety of traffic management which will include road closures at times.

Resurfacing work is continuing on the A965 in Finstown between the junction with Heddle Road and Baikie’s Stores. The current area being worked on is from the junction with Heddle Road to Smithy Cottage (approximately 80 metres west of the Evie Road), which will be controlled by temporary traffic lights for the duration of the work in this phase.

Slab repairs on Albert Street, Bridge Street and Victoria Street, Kirkwall are ongoing (with road closures in place), with the final phase of works at Victoria Street expected to be completed by the end of today (Friday 26 May). Repairs will be plated over until early next week to allow curing time for the materials used. Access to affected properties and deliveries to businesses will be accommodated where possible. All waste and recycling should be put out as normal for collection. Update - these works are completed now.

Work is ongoing on Ontoft Road, St Margaret’s Hope, between Cromarty Square and Pier Road, with the road closed to all traffic between 09:00 and 15:00 each day. It’s now expected the works will continue into Friday 1 June. Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout road closure periods.

Scottish Water are planning on carrying out work on the A960 St Andrews from Groatsetter Road to Quoyburray from week commencing Monday 22 May 2023, traffic will be controlled by traffic lights for the duration of the work.

Work on Churchill Barrier #1 will start on Tuesday 6 June. It’s expected one lane will remain open for the majority of works, however short durations closures may be necessary. Traffic will be escorted across the barrier by convoy vehicles to help keep traffic speeds to a minimum and protect the staff on site. Drivers should expect delays which will impact all traffic including public buses and school transport. These are temporary repairs to the worst areas of surface undulation and longitudinal cracking sections on the carriageway. A report on recent investigations by consultants and options for longer term works to address defects in the road structure is due to be presented to the Council’s Development and Infrastructure committee on 6 June.

A reminder that BT OpenReach are out and about at various spots along the A965 through Stenness, and also in various locations in the Stromness area, over the coming weeks – for works related to the R100 project to install new fibre optic cables. The majority of works affect one lane only, with traffic controlled by traffic lights. All traffic should expect minor delays (including public buses and school transport).