Roads update for week starting 29/06/2026

A summary of road delays and closures due to road and building/utility works and events for the week starting Monday 29/06/2026. 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 works

Muddisdale Road, Kirkwall - Resurfacing works started on 22/06/2026 and are expected to take approximately four weeks to complete. All works will be carried out under road closure conditions with access to affected properties maintained where possible. All affected sections of Muddisdale Road will be open to traffic outwith the normal working day.

Surface dressing

All surface dressing works will be carried out under road closure conditions with diversion routes being provided where possible, with roads being reopened to traffic overnight. Access to affected properties will be managed by site staff and maintained where possible, though some delays are unavoidable. School transport will be accommodated and managed through all sites; however, access is likely to be subject to delays.

• Tankerness Hall Road (Shore Road to Yinstay Road) - road closure 25/05/2026 to 29/05/2026 (5 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• Yinstay Road (Tankerness Hall Road to Redbanks Farm) - road closure 29/05/2026 to 03/06/2026 (4 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• Cornquoy Road (Tieve Road to Benshall Road) - road closure 28/05/2026 to 29/05/2026 (2 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• Grimness Road (B9044), Hottit to Haybrake Road - road closure 30/05/2026 to 02/06/2026 (3 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• A961 (Wilderness Junction to St Mary's Village, including the corner at The Inn) - road closure 04/06/2026 to 09/06/2026 (4 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• A966 (A965 Finstown Junction to Norseman Village) - road closure 10/06/2026 to 18/06/2026 (7 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• Hundland Road (A986 Junction to Durkadale Road) - road closure 19/06/2026 to 22/06/2026 (2 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.
• Hillside Road (B9057), Gueth Road to 700 metres east of Overbist - road closure 23/06/2026 to 26/06/2026 (4 days). Surface dressing completed; post-sweep and white lining ongoing.

Events

Armed Forces Day, Kirkwall - A temporary road closure will be in effect on Saturday 27/06/2026 between 08:00 and 17:30 for Armed Forces Day. The roads and car park affected are: Albert Street from Laing Street to Broad Street; Broad Street from Albert Street to Palace Road; Broad Street car park; and Castle Street from Broad Street to the car park exit. Parking on Broad Street will also be suspended between 08:00 and 17:30 on the same date.

Orkney Rowing Club Regatta, Kirkwall - A temporary road closure will be in effect on Saturday 27/06/2026 between 07:45 and 18:30 for the Orkney Rowing Club Regatta. Scapa Bay Road (B9053), St Ola, will be closed from its junction with New Scapa Road (B9148) to the access to Scapa Haven. The No.9 Town Service bus will be diverted but will continue to serve Scapa Beach, turning at the junction near the Harbour Authority Building.

Kings Baton Relay, Kirkwall - A temporary road closure will be in effect on Saturday 11/07/2026 between 13:00 and 16:30 for the Kings Baton Relay. The roads and car park affected are: Albert Street; Bridge Street; Bridge Street Wynd; Broad Street; Broad Street car park; Castle Street from the car park exit to Broad Street; Palace Road from Broad Street to Watergate; Tankerness Lane; Victoria Road from Watergate to Victoria Street; and Victoria Street. Parking on Broad Street will also be suspended between 08:00 and 16:30 on the same date.

Looking ahead

Holm Road, Kirkwall (A961) - Resurfacing and some localised road reconstruction is currently planned on Holm Road in the vicinity of the Highland Park Distillery during early to mid July 2026. The works will be carried out predominantly under temporary traffic signals with some short-duration closures of Holm Road. The works will also include some longer closures of Rosebank to enable the new road surface to be laid. The work will cause disruption to all traffic using the road, including the No.X1 Stromness to St Margaret's Hope bus service.

Old Scapa Road, Kirkwall - Works are planned to start on Old Scapa Road from its junction with Glaitness Road to Nicolson Street from 22/07/2026 for approximately seven weeks. Works will be carried out under road closure conditions with no vehicle access available for the entire period, including for the No.9 Town Service bus. Diversions will be in place via High Street, Wellington Street, New Scapa Road and Foreland Road.

Pickaquoy Road, Kirkwall - Resurfacing work is planned on Pickaquoy Road between Junction Road and Muddisdale Road later this year, which will affect all traffic in the area. Further information will follow when available.

Further information on our planned works including extents of the sites can be found using the link below.

www.orkney.gov.uk/roadworks