Roads update for week starting 08/09/25

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works, cruise visits and events for the week starting 08/09/25.

You can zoom in for a detailed view of roadworks carried out by the Council at www.orkney.gov.uk/roads

Road works and closures by other bodies are published on the Scottish Road Works Commissioner website https://roadworks.scot/

Anticipated closures related to cruise line visits for the 2025 season can be viewed here – please note these closures may be cancelled or amended at short notice due to changes in confirmed passenger numbers or bad weather cancellations by liners. The Orkney Islands Council (Cruise Liners) (Temporary Closure) Order 2025.

Cruise Related Road Closures

Anticipated cruise-related road closures in central Kirkwall for the period 8 September to 15 September 2025 (inclusive) are below – all will see Bridge Street and Albert Street, Kirkwall, close between the hours of 10am and 4pm:

• Monday 8 September
• Thursday 11 September

Road, building and utility works

Ongoing closures and delays:

A961, Burray - The carriageway works in Burray on the main A961, from Echna Loch to Northfield Road junction are ongoing, with the fourth phase of the work between Gillietrang and the access to Dale now underway. All traffic including the X1 public bus service will be subject to delays - please allow extra time for journeys.

A965 Quanterness to Rennibister - Works commenced on Tuesday 2 September to carry out haunch reconstruction works on the main A965 Kirkwall to Stromness road, between Quanterness Farm and Rennibister Farm. Works will take place in sections and are expected to take around 12 weeks to complete with temporary traffic lights and speed restrictions in place. All traffic, including public bus services (X1, 6 Tingwall, 8S Skara Brae) will be subject to delays - please allow extra time for journeys.

Junction Road, Kirkwall - R Clouston Ltd have reopened Junction Road, however they still have some traffic management in place to enable building works to be carried out in safety. There is still the potential for some delays to all traffic using Junction Road in the vicinity of No 42 as the works on site progress.

B9050 Deerness - Drainage maintenance works on the B9050 between the Denwick Road and Manse Road junctions are ongoing. The works will be carried out under temporary traffic signals with a reduced speed limit of 30mph also being in place for the duration of the works on site, which will cause delays to all traffic using the B9050.

Outertown Road, Stromness - SSEN have a temporary bridge on Outertown Road which is now in use and is likely to remain in place until September 2025.

Line marking/sweeping - Crews are out and about sweeping and line marking in various locations – please watch out for them and heed any speed limits which are there for everyone's safety.

Coming soon:

Castle Street - Castle street will be closed between the car park and broad street on Monday the 15th for 1 week to allow for machinery access for property maintenance. This will affect the No9 Kirkwall town Service and No4 Airport public buses.

Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall - Starting week commencing Monday 23 September we are planning to repair a manhole cover on Pickaquoy Road. To enable the work to be carried out in safety the east bound side of Pickaquoy Road will be closed for around three days between Great Western Road and Junction Road (ie. the roundabout at McEwens and the junction at Lidl supermarket). A diversion route will be in place for affected traffic.

Stromness Slab Repairs - Works are planned to carry out slab repairs in Stromness from Monday 30 September 2025, with the works planned to take around 5 weeks to complete. The works will be carried out under road closure conditions, with the affected roads being reopened to traffic overnight and at weekends where possible. Waste and recycling should be put out as normal for collection during all phases of the work. Deliveries to businesses affected by the works will be maintained where possible and will be at the discretion of site staff.

• Phase 1: John Street, from North End Road to E Flett butchers (Mon 30/09/2025 to Fri 04/10/2025)
• Phase 2: John Street, from E Flett butchers to Victoria Street, Victoria Street from John Street to Ferry Road (the fountain area) (Mon 07/10/2025 to Thu 10/10/2025)
• Phase 3: Victoria Street, fountain area to Church Road (Fri 11/10/2025 to 15/10/2025)
• Phase 4: Victoria Street, Church Road to Hellihole Road (Wed 16/10/2025 to 21/10/2025)
• Phase 5: Alfred Street, South End (Wed 23/10/2025 to 28/10/2025)