Update from Orkney Islands Council

Starting the week beginning April 1st, works will be moving to the top of Castle Street and the middle of Broad Street, including finishing touches installed at key crossing points which will include raised textured stone features.

This will lead to the closure of the junction of Broad Street, Castle Street and Albert Street to all traffic for up to five weeks – and therefore the full closure of Broad Street and Albert Street for the duration.

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

The key aspects of the Place and Spaces project are to:

• Improve the area at the bottom of the Strynd and top of Castle Street.
• Provide a new path to the War Memorial to enhance it as a place to stop and reflect on the significance of the monument.
• Improve the head of Victoria Street to encourage people into this part of the town.

This initial phase of the project is due for completion early May after which works will be suspended for the main summer season. Work will move to the entrance to Victoria Street in the autumn, with work being suspended again in December for Christmas shopping season.