Roads update for week starting 18 August 2025

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works, cruise visits and events for the week starting Monday 18 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 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 are below:

• Sunday 24 August: Bridge Street and Albert Street, Kirkwall, between the hours of 10am and 4pm

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 phases 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.

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.

Junction Road, Kirkwall

R Clouston Ltd currently have Junction Road closed between the Orkney Library and Castle Street. The closure is expected to be in place for approximately four weeks to enable building works to be carried out in safety. All buses that normally use the affected section of Junction Road will be diverted via Great Western Road.

B9050 Deerness

Drainage maintenance works on the B9050 between the Denwick Road and Manse Road junctions started on Monday 11 August 2025 and are expected to take approximately two weeks to complete. 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.

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 eastbound 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 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

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 service 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.