Update from Orkney Islands Council

Street works in Kirkwall town centre will move to the opposite side of Broad Street from today ,18th March.

Orkney Islands Council is also advising local folk that with key elements of the project still to get underway, there will be significant street closures in the area in coming weeks.

Works are currently taking place outside The Reel and at the Broad Street car park but will soon shift to outside the Clydesdale Bank up as far as Lows, and down Castle Street towards the Radio Orkney studios.

Pedestrian access to the bank will be maintained throughout but pedestrians won’t be able to cross directly between the TSB and Clydesdale banks along the top of Castle St, but will be diverted along the pavement at the Reel side instead.

The current one way system means drivers can turn into Castle Street from Junction Road and on into Broad Street but vehicles do not have access from Palace Road into Broad Street. A signed diversion via Clay Loan is in place. In addition, vehicles cannot turn into Castle Street from Albert Street – but can drive on into Broad Street.

The final stage of the project, before its halted for the summer, will begin in April.  This will see works move to the top of Castle Street and in the middle of Broad Street,  including finishing touches installed at key crossing points which will include raised textured stone features.

This will inevitably leading to significant road closures in the area with Broad Street, Castle Street and Albert Street all closed to traffic for up to five weeks.  Further details on this and any diversions will be released shortly and the contractor will be liaising with local businesses.

The works are part of the Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiative’s (KTHI) Places and Spaces project.