Roads update for week starting 15/09/25

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works, cruise visits and events for the week starting Monday 15/09/2025.

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.

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.

Cruise Related Road Closures

No cruise-related road closures are planned in central Kirkwall for the week commencing 15/09/2025.

Road, building and utility works

Ongoing closures and delays:

A961, Burray - Road 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 02/09/2025 to carry out road 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.

Castle Street, Kirkwall - Castle Street will be closed between the car park and Broad Street from Monday 15/09/2025 to Monday 22/09/2025 to allow John McGregor Builders to carry out roof repairs. This will affect the No9 Kirkwall Town Service and No4 Airport public buses. Traffic signs will be erected to indicate when the road is closed.

The Mound, Kirkwall - The Mound, Kirkwall will close on Wednesday 17/09/2025 when required to allow Andrew Sinclair Limited, on behalf of SSEN, to carry out works on a substation. Traffic signs will be erected to indicate when the road is closed.

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 later this month.

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:

Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall - Starting week commencing Monday 22/09/2025 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 29/09/2025, 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 29/09/2025 to Fri 03/10/2025)
• Phase 2: John Street, from E Flett butchers to Victoria Street, Victoria Street from John Street to Ferry Road (the fountain area) (Mon 06/10/2025 to Thu 09/10/2025)
• Phase 3: Victoria Street, fountain area to Church Road (Fri 10/10/2025 to 14/10/2025)
• Phase 4: Victoria Street, Church Road to Hellihole Road (Wed 15/10/2025 to 21/10/2025)
• Phase 5: Alfred Street, South End (Wed 22/10/2025 to 28/10/2025)

Quoydandy Branch Road Junction (A960) - From week commencing 06/10/2025, we 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 delays for the No. 4 Airport bus and school transport. More information to follow nearer the time of works.

Glaitness Road, Kirkwall - From week commencing 13/10/2025, we will be carrying out resurfacing works on Glaitness Road from the Kirkwall side of Little Corse Loan to Soulisquoy Loan. Works are expected to take around one week and will be carried out under road closure conditions, it is currently planned that the Number 9 bus service will be accommodated during the works.

West Castle Street, Kirkwall - From week commencing 20/10/2025 we 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.

Kirkwall Slab Repairs - Works are planned to carry out slab repairs in Kirkwall from Thursday 30/10/2025, 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: Victoria Street (Thu 30/10/2025 to Tue 04/11/2025)
• Phase 2: Main Street (Wed 05/11/2025 & Thu 06/11/2025)

A964, Orphir - From around week starting Monday 03/11/2025 and following completion of the A961 roadworks in Burray, we 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 delays on the No2 Houton Bus and school transport.