Roads update for week starting 20/10/25

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works, cruise visits and events for the week starting Monday 20/10/2025.

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.

Community events

Halloween Fancy Dress Parade, Kirkwall - Roads in central Kirkwall will close on Saturday 25/10/2025 between 13:00 and 15:00 for a Halloween Fancy Dress parade. The following roads will be affected: Albert Street, Bridge Street, Broad Street, Broad Street car park, Castle Street (from car park exit to Broad Street), Palace Road (from Watergate to Broad Street), Tankerness Lane (one way section only), Victoria Street, Victoria Road (from Watergate to Victoria Street). The public bus services No4 Airport and No9 Kirkwall Town Service will be affected during the road closure period.

Remembrance Sunday Parade, Kirkwall - Roads in central Kirkwall will close on Sunday 09/11/2025 between 10:00 and 13:00 for a Remembrance Sunday parade and wreath laying ceremony. The following roads will be affected: Albert Street (Laing Street to Broad Street), Broad Street, Castle Street, Junction Road (Pickaquoy Road to Castle Street), Palace Road, Tankerness Lane, Victoria Street (Broad Street to Victoria Road), Watergate (Buttquoy Place to Palace Road), West Tankerness Lane. The public bus services No4 Airport and No9 Kirkwall Town Service will be affected during the road closure period.

Road, building and utility works

Ongoing closures and delays:

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.  Kirkwall Travel Centre will remain open and all public buses will be diverted via Great Western Road (no access to Junction Road)

Glaitness Road, Kirkwall - We have commenced resurfacing works on Glaitness Road from the Kirkwall side of Little Corse Loan to Soulisquoy Loan. Works are expected to take around one week to complete and will be carried out under road closure conditions during working hours with temporary traffic lights out with. The Number 9 Kirkwall Town Service bus will be accommodated during the works.

Churchill Barriers - Repairs have now started across all four barriers. Works will be completed under 2-way lights in sections from barrier No 1 to No 4. Works are expected to take around 2 weeks to complete however this will be weather dependent. All traffic including the X1 public bus service will be subject to delays.

A961, South Ronaldsay - Openreach will be carrying out duct installation works during week commencing Monday 20/10/2025, with traffic being controlled by temporary traffic signals. The work is planned to start around Widewall Cottage and will be carried out in sections down to Burwick. There will be delays to all traffic that will be passing through the work sites as they progress.

Ourgar Road and Herston Road (B9042), South Ronaldsay - Openreach will be carrying out telecommunications works from Monday 20/10/2025 to Saturday 28/02/2026. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions with traffic controls. Vehicles using these lengths of road will be subject to delays and to possible speed restrictions of either ten miles, twenty miles or thirty miles per hour. Vehicular traffic may also be restricted to using one lane of the carriageway.

Lythes Road and Stews Road, South Ronaldsay - Openreach will be carrying out telecommunications works from Monday 20/10/2025 to Saturday 28/02/2026. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions with traffic controls. Vehicles using these lengths of road will be subject to delays and to possible speed restrictions of either ten miles, twenty miles or thirty miles per hour. Vehicular traffic may also be restricted to using one lane of the carriageway.

A965 between Quanterness and Rennibister - Works are ongoing to carry out road reconstruction works on the main A965 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.

Ireland Road, Stenness - RJ Mcleod is carrying out ducting works on the Ireland Road with works expected to be completed by end of October. Works will be carried out under a road closure condition. Works will be taking place during school holidays and therefore won't affect school transport.

Stromness Slab Repairs - Works started on 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 2: John Street, from E Flett butchers to Victoria Street, Victoria Street from John Street to Ferry Road (the fountain area) - Underway
• Phase 3: Victoria Street, fountain area to Church Road - Underway
• Phase 4: Victoria Street, Church Road to Hellihole Road - Underway
• Phase 5: Alfred Street, South End (Wed 22/10/2025 to 28/10/2025)

Junction Road, Kirkwall - R Clouston Ltd works on Junction Road are ongoing, with 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 as the works on site progress.

Outertown Road, Stromness - Traffic on the Outertown Road will be diverted via a temporary bypass as new cable duct is laid across the road and the road is reinstated, with this particular section of work expected to take around four weeks to complete.

Coming soon:

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)

Quoydandy Branch Road Junction (A960) - From week commencing 03/11/2025, 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.

A964, Orphir - From around week starting Monday 10/11/2025, 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.

Festive Lighting - We will be erecting festive lighting week commencing Monday 10/11/2025. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions:

• Monday 10/11/2025: St Margarets Hope, Cromarty Square. School, bus and ferry times will be accommodated.
• Tuesday 11/11/2025: Stromness - Stromness Town Hall towards Graham Place.
• Tuesday 11/11/2025: Kirkwall - Broad Street - works to take place in the evening (18:00 to approximately 22:00). The No4 & No9 bus service will be accommodated.
• Wednesday 12/11/2025: Kirkwall - Bridge Street to Broad Street, Victoria Street.
• Thursday 13/11/2025: Kirkwall - Victoria Street and Main Street.

Howe Road, Stromness - RJ Mcleod ducting works starting week beginning Monday 10/11/2025, expected to take 2 weeks.