Roads update for week starting 23/02/2026

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works and events for the week starting Monday 23/02/2026.

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.

Ongoing closures and delays

A964, Orphir - We are 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 early March 2026. Please note this may cause delays to the No. 2 Houton bus service.

A965, Finstown - Works are underway on the A965 between Atlantis Lodges and the Old Finstown Road junction and are expected to be completed by the end of April 2026. Works will take place in sections with temporary traffic lights and speed restrictions in place. This will affect all traffic including public bus services.

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 safely. There is still the potential for delays to all traffic using Junction Road as the works on site progress.

South Ronaldsay (various locations) - Openreach works are ongoing to install ducting and fibre optic cable in various locations around South Ronaldsay. Works will be carried out under two-way traffic lights and road closures. Access to affected properties will be maintained throughout the works, however access will be subject to delays.

A965, Firth, Stenness and Stromness - Openreach are planning to carry out cable laying works on the A965 at Stenness. The work will cause delays to all traffic using the route including public bus services.

Outertown Road, Stromness - Traffic on Outertown Road will be diverted via a temporary bypass as new cable duct is laid across the road and the road is reinstated.

A966 between Skiddy Road and Tingwall Junction - Work is underway on road reconstruction with the work expected to take around two months to complete. The work will be carried out under temporary traffic signals, and there will be delays to all traffic in the area including the No. 6 Tingwall Ferry bus service whilst the works are being carried out.

Wardhill Road, Stromness - SSEN are currently working on Wardhill Road to install cable ducting. The work is being carried out under road closure conditions and will affect all traffic in the area. Due to unexpected ground conditions, the work is taking longer than originally planned, with Wardhill Road expected to remain closed until Friday 27/02/2026.

Coming soon

A960, between Groatsetter Road and Churchyard Road, Tankerness - We are currently planning to carry out haunch reconstruction works from Wednesday 01/04/2026, with the work expected to take around two weeks to complete. The work will be carried out under temporary traffic signals, and there will be delays to all traffic in the area including bus services whilst the works are being carried out.

Church Road, St Margaret's Hope - We are currently planning to carry out resurfacing works expected to start in the third week of April 2026, with the work expected to take around two weeks to complete. The work will be carried out under road closure conditions and will affect the X1 bus service. During road closure periods the bus will travel in and out of St Margaret's Hope via St Margaret's Road.

B9042 near the Oback Road junction, South Ronaldsay - We will be carrying out a small surface patch following completion of works on the A960, which is expected to take approximately two days to complete. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions, with essential access maintained where possible.

Castle Street, Kirkwall - We are currently planning to carry out surfacing works from Tuesday 05/05/2026, with the work expected to take around two weeks to complete. The work will be carried out under full road closure conditions and will affect public bus services, including the No. 4 Kirkwall Airport and No. 9 Kirkwall Town Service, as well as taxis using Castle Street. Further information will be provided nearer the time.