Roads update for week starting 04/05/2026

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works and events for the week starting Monday 04/05/2026. An interactive map showing roadworks carried out by the Council is available at www.orkney.gov.uk/roads. Road works and closures by other bodies are published on the Scottish Road Works Commissioner website.

Ongoing works

A965, Finstown - Works are underway on the A965 between Atlantis Lodges and the Old Finstown Road junction and are expected to be completed by the middle of May 2026. Works will take place in sections with temporary traffic lights and speed restrictions in place. This will influence all traffic including public bus services. The second of the two road closures of the A965 is expected to start on Tuesday 28/04/2026, where all traffic will be diverted via Zions Loan and Old Finstown Road. The closure is expected to be removed by Wednesday 06/05/2026.

Brownstown Road, Stromness - Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) are planning to start works week beginning Monday 04/05/2026 to lay underground ducting on Brownstown Road, Stromness. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions. Access to properties will be maintained at all times.

Castle Street, Kirkwall - We are currently carrying out surfacing works from Tuesday 05/05/2026, with the work expected to take around two weeks to complete. The work will be carried out under full road closure conditions and will affect public bus services No.4 Kirkwall Airport and No.9 Kirkwall Town Service, as well as taxis that use Castle Street. Castle Street car park will be closed for the duration of the works. Taxi spaces have been relocated to Broad Street car park.

Surface Dressing 2026

Surface dressing works are due to commence across various locations throughout Orkney from late May into July 2026. Works are scheduled at the following locations:

• Cornquoy Road, Holm (01/06/2026 to 04/06/2026)
• Aikers Road, South Ronaldsay (03/06/2026 to 09/06/2026)
• A961, Holm (08/06/2026 to 15/06/2026)
• A966, Firth (11/06/2026 to 25/06/2026)
• Hundland Road, Birsay (23/06/2026 to 25/06/2026)
• Hillside Road, Birsay (25/06/2026 to 02/07/2026)
• Tankerness Hall Road, Tankerness (13/07/2026 to 17/07/2026).