Foreland Road officially opens

May 24, 2016 at 10:53 am

OIC convener Councillor Steven Heddle opens Foreland Road this morning. He is pictured with, from the left, OIC engineer Neil Gauld, Bruce Sinclair representing the contractors, Councillor James Stockan, and OIC head of roads Darren Richardson. (www.theorcadianphotos.co.uk)

The new link road built in Kirkwall was officially opened today, Tuesday.

Works for the new road, called Foreland Road, began last September. The £1.7million scheme was completed by local company Andrew Sinclair — Contractors and Plant Hirers.

It is a little over 600 metres in length and will link the New Scapa Road and Orphir Road.

The link road provides access points for the island’s new hospital and healthcare facilities and will reduce the impact on the surrounding roads.

The scheme includes a new roundabout at the junction of Foreland Road, New Scapa Road and the Holm Branch Road.

In addition, pedestrian and cyclist access along the road has been incorporated with a significant level of planting and comprehensive drainage work to help blend the area into the local environment and encourage wildlife.

OIC Convener Steven Heddle said: “I am pleased that Foreland Road is now officially open. This has been a considerable project that will serve both as a practical function for the new hospital and the new planting scheme will be visually appealing to the wider Orkney community.”