OIC provides a roadworks update

Orkney Islands Council has provided an update on the various roadworks that are planned for the weeks ahead.

The New Scapa Road works originally scheduled for next week have been postponed to February in light of the current demand on the NHS Orkney vaccination and assessment centres.

Work is underway on Junction Road and Berstane Lodge Road, Kirkwall, with an expected completion date of Tuesday, November 23 on Berstane Lodge Road and Thursday, November 25 on Junction Road due to additional works that have been identified. The current bus service impacts are:  Junction Road will be closed between Castle Street (Travel Centre) and Tankerness Lane (Restart). Public Bus services affected are X1,2,3,6,7,8S and 9. Buses will turn left out of Travel Centre, left at Kiln Corner Roundabout, left at the Ayre Roundabout onto Great Western Road, rejoining routes on Pickaquoy Road (and vice versa on journeys to the Travel Centre).

Works are planned for Outertown Road, Stromness, starting on Monday, November 29 to Thursday, December 2.

Meanwhile, folk can expect roadworks on the A966 junction with Gorseness Road (Tingwall junction), on Friday, December 3 and Saturday 4.

Roadworkers will be heading to the B9059 road on Shapinsay between Housebay Cottage and Howe Farm, from Tuesday, December 7 to Thursday 9.

On Monday and Tuesday 13-14 December, roadworks are planned for Old Finstown Road between Zions Loan and Kingsdale.

The A961 St Mary’s, corner at The Inn, will be subject to roadworks from Monday, December 13 to Friday 17. The work is programmed to last for up to five days and will be carried out under road closure conditions in order for the folks involved to be as safe as possible. To reduce the impact of this, the closures will be restricted to 9am to 3.30pm which should enable school transport to operate with a minimum of disturbance.

Outwith the road closure times traffic will be restricted to using one side of the road and will be controlled by temporary traffic lights which will result in delays during busier periods.

A diversion route will be in place via the A960 (Kirkwall to Deerness road) and the B9052 from St Andrews Primary School to the First Churchill Barrier.

Stagecoach has advised that during the hours of 9am – 3:30pm, the X1 commercial service from St Margarets Hope to Kirkwall will divert via the Kirkwall to Deerness road past St Andrews Primary School to the First Barrier and on to St Margaret’s Hope as per the existing timetable. Due to the change of route and possible disruptions, OIC asks passengers to allow 10/15 minutes on current scheduled times as there are likely to be delays.

During the period of closure, there will be an additional X1 service in operation from Kirkwall (A961) as per the current timetable which will serve as far as St Marys and back for passengers residing in the Holm area. Therefore, the pick up/ drop off point for passengers will be from Park of Ayre and therefore there will be no service between the First Barrier and Park of Ayre during the period of closure.

Posters notifying passengers of the diversions will be placed on the X1 service, Kirkwall Travel Centre and affected bus shelters. It should be noted that passengers can track buses across Orkney on the Stagecoach App which would provide accurate timings.

OIC apologises for the inconvenience this will cause during the period of road closure. For further information on the X1 timetable during this time please contact Stagecoach on 87 0555 or visitwww.orkney.gov.uk/transport for timetable information.

As for the council’s flagstone repairs, the works on John Street have been completed, with all barriers and signs now removed and the section reopened, today, Friday, November 19.

In Victoria Street, from Bank Lane towards its junction with Ferry Road at the fountain works have been completed and reinstatements are curing with barriers expected to be removed next week. Access by the works area will been maintained.

At Ferry Road, adjacent to the fountain, works have started and will continue next week, when the appropriate signs and barriers are erected. Access will be maintained.

From Monday, November 22, works will commence on the section of Victoria Street from The Pier Bistro to the bottom of Church Road, with the section being closed to all vehicles. This section will be closed until the end of November.

The works will then move onto Alfred Street, from December 1, starting at Hellihole Road junction, with the section up to the Lighthouse Pier access closed. This will mean vehicle access to Lighthouse Pier/ South End will be via Ness Road.

Throughout December works will continue along Alfred Street towards Mayburn Court, further updates will follow, as the works progress.