A969

The A969 is a short A-road in the Shetland capital of Lerwick.

Lerwick Harbour from the A969

Route

Starting at its northern end, it begins at a mini-roundabout junction on the A970 in the Garthspool area of town. From here the route heads east along North Road and then Commercial Road, passing in front of the old harbour. Another mini roundabout helps to turn the route to the south on to The Esplanade and past the ferry port for Bressay, with the B9072 forking off right into the town centre. It then passes another old harbour area as it winds east, then south again onto Church Road, passing around the shore side of the town centre. After turning westwards at another mini roundabout on to Annsbrae Place, the A969 continues west along Scalloway Road then South Road to reach what used to be the only full roundabout on Shetland, the Clickimin junction. Here the road once again meets the A970 and ends.

History

Much has changed to the route of the A969 over the years. In 1922, the road was much longer than now as it continued west from Garthspool to the west coast at Scalloway, along what is now the A970, with the A970 itself starting at the junction at Bridge of Fitch. Although substantially widened and realigned, the original route of the A969 has not changed that much since 1922. This section was renumbered as part of the A970, including the spur to Scalloway, at some point between 1946 and 1951, thus removing the majority of the route of the A969.

In Lerwick itself, the original start point of the A969 had been at the old harbour just south of the Bressay Ferry pier. The route was soon extended clockwise to meet the A968 which at the time ran along King Harald Street. However, this extension did not follow Church Street, instead taking a much longer route. This saw it continue along the coast on Commercial Street and Twagoes Road, then turn inland on Lovers Loan, cutting the corner on Breiwick Road before heading north to the other end of Church Street on Knab Road. The reason for this lengthy detour, which remained in place into the 1970s is not clear. When the A970 was extended south, it took over all of the former A968, and so followed King Harald Street. More recently, it has been moved west onto Lochside, seeing the A969 extended along South Road, and regaining a little of its original route on North Road.

The 1922 MOT Road List defines this route as: Lerwick - Scalloway