Roads update for week starting 11 August 2025

A summing up of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works, cruise visits and events - for the week starting Monday 11 August 2025.

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 passengers numbers or bad weather cancellations by liners.  The Orkney Islands Council (Cruise Liners) (Temporary Closure) Order 2025 

Closures for Community Events

Friday 15 August – Royal British Legion Event

Albert Street, Bridge Street, Broad Street, Castle Street will be closed on Friday 15 August between 10:10am and 11:30amm for the Royal British Legion Victory Over Japan Event.  As a result, the No4 Airport and No9 Kirkwall Town Service buses will not be able to operate along Castle Street, Broad Street and Palace Road.

Cruise related road closures

Anticipated cruise-related road closures in central Kirkwall are below:

• Wednesday 13 August: Bridge Street and Albert Street, Kirkwall, between the hours of 10am and 4pm

 Road, building and utility works 

Junction Road, Kirkwall  

From Monday 11 August, R Clouston Ltd will be closing Junction Road between the Orkney Library and Castle Street, for approximately four weeks, to enable building works to be carried out in safety. All public buses will divert via Great Western Road.

 B9050 Deerness

From Monday 11 August OIC will be carrying out some drainage maintenance works between the Denwick Road and Manse Road junctions. 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.

Ongoing closures and delays:   

A961, Burray  

From 14 July, OIC commenced carriageway surfacing and reconstruction works in Burray on the main A961, from Echna Loch to Northfield Road junction. 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. To enable the first two phase of the works the Viewfield Road will be closed at its junction with the A961 - diversion signage will be in place for affected traffic and Fossil Centre access. All traffic including the X1 public bus service will be subject to minor delays - please allow extra time for journeys. 

 Line marking/sweeping  

Crews are out and about sweeping and line marking in various locations following the recent surface dressing works – please watch out for them and heed any speed limits which are there for everyone’s safety and to help the newly laid chips bed in nicely. 

Further detail of the roads affected are available here https://www.orkney.gov.uk/latest-news/drive-with-care-as-2025-road-works-season-ramps-up/ 

 Outertown Road, Stromness  

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

Looking further ahead:       

A965 Quanterness to Rennibister  

From Monday 25 August, OIC will carry out carriageway 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 minor delays - please allow extra time for journeys. 

Pickaquoy Road  

Starting mid to late September OIC is 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 between the roundabout at McEwens and the junction at Lidl supermarket). A diversion route will be in place for affected traffic. 

Quoydandy Branch Road Jct (A960)  

From week commencing 6 October 2025, OIC will be carrying out surfacing works on the A960 at the Quoydandy Road Junction. Works are expected to take around one week to complete. These works will be done under road closure conditions and two way traffic lights, with minor delays for the No. 4 Airport bus and school transport. More information to follow nearer the time of works.  

Glaitness Road  

From week Commencing 13 October 2025, OIC will be carrying out resurfacing works on Glaitness Road from the property of Stromberry for 100m. Works are expected to take around one week to complete and a road closure will be in place. The No9 Town Service Public bus will still be accommodated during the works. 

West Castle Street,  

From week commencing 20 October 2025 OIC will be carrying out structural maintenance works on West Castle Street, for around two weeks. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions. All services buses will divert via Great Western Road during works. 

A964, Orphir  

From around week starting Monday 3 November and following completion of the A961 roadworks in Burray, OIC will be carrying out reconstruction works on the A964 between Germiston Road and Smoogro Road. Works will be carried out under two-way traffic lights and are expected to be completed by the middle of February 2026. This will have minor delays on the No2 Houton Bus and school transport.