Ongoing disruption for town drivers
Work due to take place on the main road at Holmsgarth next month is likely to add to traffic misery for drivers, who face disruption in various other parts of Lerwick until December.
The Holmsgarth Road is to be re-surfaced between the roundabouts at the Co-op supermarket and Gremista Brae, an operation that will take most of the month.
During the period of the work, between 5th and 28th October, a one-way system will be in force. Only southbound traffic, heading into Lerwick, will be able to use the road – northbound traffic will be re-routed up the old North Road. Southbound traffic will be prohibited from using the old North Road, and parking prohibitions will be in place on both roads. During this time SIC roads department say there will be “significant disruption” to traffic flows.
Elsewhere in Lerwick, work is continuing at the Esplanade on the Small Boat Harbour sea wall replacement. This started on Wednesday and is expected to be finished by next Friday. However the work is tide-dependent and requires a full road closure during the placement of new pre-cast wall sections. This means that access to the part of Commercial Street that includes the Post Office and the Royal Bank is affected, with no entry from Church Road. Access to and from the Royal Bank parking area is via two-way traffic from the Market Cross.
The roads department says traffic lights will be required during various periods of the Esplanade works, which will continue until early December. Traffic lights will only be in operation when circumstances dictate.
Meanwhile Commercial Street is also affected. Vehicles are still unable to use the central section of the street while an area of flags is being re-laid near the top of Irvine Place. Full pedestrian access is available along the street and to all shops, however.
Other road works have been taking place at Lerwick’s South Road, where temporary traffic lights are continuing to operate near the junction with Sletts Road. The Sletts Road junction is due to be open again today. These works are in connection with the water main replacement project.
