www.forthreplacementcrossing.info Contents 1. Introduction 4 Background 4 Environmental Impact Assessment 4 Need for the Scheme 5 Scheme Objectives 5 Alternatives which have been considered 6 The Proposed Scheme 7 Delivering the Proposals 8 Overview of the Environmental Impact Assessment Process 8 Consultation and Scoping 9 2. Impacts of the proposals 10 Land Use 10 Geology, Contaminated Land and Groundwater 10 Water Environment 11 Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecology 11 Estuarine Ecology 13 Landscape 14 Visual 15 Cultural Heritage 16 Air Quality during Scheme Operation 16 Noise and Vibration during Scheme Operation 17 Pedestrians, Cyclists, Equestrians and Community Effects 18 Vehicle Travellers 19 Disruption due to Construction 19 Policies and Plans 20 Cumulative Impact Assessment 21 Effect of Works on the Forth Road Bridge 21 3. Next steps 23 4. Legend for larger scale maps 24 5. Larger scale maps 25 3 Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary 1. Introduction Background buses, taxis and other specified users and for continued use by pedestrians and cyclists. The new bridge This brochure is the Non-Technical Summary of the (referred to as the main crossing) will be used by all Environmental Statement for the Forth Replacement other traffic including private cars and heavy goods Crossing project (FRC). vehicles. Emergency vehicles will be able to use either bridge. The FRC is a major road infrastructure project proposed by Transport Scotland, an agency of the The proposed scheme will be authorised through Scottish Government. The project is driven by a Hybrid Bill introduced in November 2009 and uncertainty over the future viability of the existing processed by the Scottish Parliament. A Hybrid Bill is a Forth Road Bridge, and is designed to safeguard this public Bill which affects a particular interest of a person vital connection in Scotland’s transport network. It or a body. It generally relates to a development project. comprises a new cable-stayed bridge across the Firth of Forth, to the west of the existing Forth Road Bridge, It is anticipated that construction will start in 2011 and and associated new and improved road infrastructure that the FRC will open in late 2016. to the north and south of the bridge. The route of the proposed bridge and connecting roads is shown below. Environmental Impact Assessment A823 (M) To Halbeath Junction N Masterton Junction An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the M90 Rosyth A921 proposals is required under European legislation and A985 Admiralty Junction Dalgety Bay by the Scottish Parliament to identify the potential Inverkeithing environmental effects of the proposals. European and Rosyth Dockyard UK legislation also require an assessment of the effects P&R Ferrytoll Junction of the proposals on internationally designated sites for nature conservation in the vicinity of the proposed A90 Firth scheme. Reports, which are called Reports to Inform North of Forth Firth Queensferry an Appropriate Assessment, have been produced for of Forth these sites. Information from these separate reports is Forth Replacement Crossing Forth Road summarised in the Environmental Statement. Bridge Forth Bridge The Environmental Statement reports the findings of Linn Mill the Environmental Impact Assessment work carried out A904 South Queensferry on the FRC proposals during 2008 and 2009. This Non- Newton Dalmeny To Edinburgh Technical Summary presents the key issues identified in Queensferry A90 Junction Dundas Home Farm Scotstoun the Environmental Statement, including the beneficial Junction Dundas Castle Estate A8000 and adverse impacts considered to be of particular To Stirling importance. The Environmental Impact Assessment M9 Spur process has also considered the likelihood that, in the absence of a replacement crossing, there will be a need Legend M9 for substantial repairs and refurbishment on the Forth Proposed Scheme Kirkliston Railway Airport M9 Junction 1a Road Bridge, with associated significant impacts relating Railway Station Motorway/A-roads Waterbodies Edinburgh to the disruption created by these works. Airport Settlements P&R Park and Ride To Newbridge Public Transport Sliproads Further details about the FRC proposals and their The proposed scheme will retain the existing Forth impacts can be found within the full text of the Road Bridge as a public transport corridor for use by Environmental Statement. 4 www.forthreplacementcrossing.info Need for the Scheme Scheme Objectives The FRC is required because of the uncertainty over There are eight specific transport planning objectives the condition and long-term future of the existing Forth for the FRC which have underpinned the work on the Road Bridge. The crossing over the Forth is critical proposals. These are to: to the east of Scotland economy, providing a vital link between Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife. maintain cross-Forth transport links for all modes to at least the level of service offered in 2006 The condition and operational capability of the Forth Road Bridge have deteriorated over time, primarily connect to the strategic transport network to aid because of increased traffic and the effects of weather optimisation of the network as a whole on the bridge. One of the main concerns in recent years has been the condition of the main suspension improve the reliability of journey times for all modes cables and whether the bridge can continue as the main crossing for all traffic, as well as other ongoing increase travel choices and improve integration maintenance issues. across modes to encourage modal shift of people and goods In February 2008, a study by the Forth Estuary Transport Authority (FETA) reported that it would be improve accessibility and social inclusion possible to replace the bridge’s cables, however this would not be feasible without a replacement bridge minimise the impacts of maintenance on the being in place because of the severity of the impact effective operation of the transport network on road users and the wider economy. Studies into the rate of cable deterioration are ongoing and the support sustainable development and economic preliminary findings have been taken into account in the growth design and programming of the FRC proposals. minimise the impact on people, and the natural and The FRC has been identified as a key strategic cultural heritage of the Forth area. investment project in Scotland’s national transport network in the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) undertaken by Transport Scotland in December 2008, and the National Planning Framework (NPF2) published by the Scottish Government in June 2009. 5 Artists impression showing the new cable-stayed Forth Replacement Crossing alongside the existing bridges in the Firth of Forth Environmental Statement Non Technical Summary Alternatives which have FETA has now installed dehumidification equipment to arrest or slow down the rate of corrosion on the been considered main cables of the Forth Road Bridge. An assessment by Transport Scotland established that the Forth Road A Forth Replacement Crossing Study (FRCS) was Bridge, once relieved of general traffic, would be undertaken during 2006 and 2007 to identify the most capable of accommodating public transport, pedestrian/ favourable option for a replacement crossing. cycle facilities and of being adapted for tram/light rail use at a later date. In addition, assuming that FETA’s Five potential crossing corridors were identified from dehumidification scheme is successful and with all an original list of 65 potential crossing solutions. Each general traffic transferred to the replacement crossing, of the five corridors was appraised for its suitability for the main cables of the Forth Road Bridge may not a tunnel or a bridge crossing. The appraisal process require replacement for the foreseeable future. considered environmental issues alongside other factors, and concluded that a bridge option in a corridor These findings were incorporated into the project, east of Rosyth and to the west of South Queensferry allowing a narrower, more cost-effective cross-section was the best option due to lowest construction costs, for the main crossing to be adopted. A range of deck shortest construction programme, lowest construction and tower options were considered with aesthetics, risk and greatest economic benefit. construction and cost all taken into account. The selected option was a single deck, twin corridor bridge Main Crossing Options with single column towers. Development of the selected bridge (the main crossing) Connecting Road Options took place during 2008 and 2009. Initially a design was considered which incorporated a dual two-lane In 2008, a review of route corridor options was motorway, footway/cycleway and a public transport undertaken to consider potential road connections to corridor. the north and south of the Firth of Forth that could connect the recommended bridge corridor to the The work undertaken by FETA during 2008 indicated existing road network. Nine route corridors were that the main cables of the Forth Road Bridge were not identified for assessment: three options to the north deteriorating as rapidly as anticipated and confirmed of the Firth of Forth (providing connections to the that it would be feasible to replace them, if necessary, A90/M90) and six options to the south (providing following the completion of a replacement crossing. connections to the A90, M9 Spur and M9). Artists impression of the proposed Forth Replacement Crossing with single column towers www.forthreplacementcrossing.info