An Bord Pleanála

ROADS ACTS 1993 to 2007

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ACTS 2000 to 2011

Cork County Council

APPLICATION by the National Authority of St Martin’s House, Ballsbridge, for approval under section 51 of the Roads Act, 1993, as amended, in accordance with documentation, including an environmental impact statement and a Natura impact statement, lodged with An Bord Pleanála on the 19 th day of July, 2012.

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: An improved interchange at the location of the existing Dunkettle Interchange at the intersection of the N8 , the N25 National Primary Road and the N40 National Primary Road in the townlands of Lota, Dunkettle, Inchera, Kilcoolishal and Wallingstown, County comprising:

(i) a series of direct road links between the N8 National Primary Road, the N25 National Primary Road and the N40 National Primary Road and links to the R623 in Wallingstown and to Burys Bridge in Dunkettle and Kilcoolishal,

(ii) one number grade separated junction arrangement at the existing N25 National Primary Road approximately 650 metres to the east of the existing Dunkettle Interchange,

(iii) four number roundabouts – two number at the grade separated junction, one number at the tie-in with the existing road network in Dunkettle and Kilcoolishal and one number at the tie-in with the existing road network in Wallingstown,

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(iv) 43 number major structures of various forms comprising: - one number overbridge, - seven number underbridges, - two number railway bridges, - one number footbridge, - modification of the northern approach structure to the , - seven number retaining walls, and - 24 number gantries,

(v) several culverts where the scheme crosses watercourses or intertidal areas, and

(vi) pedestrian and cyclist facilities, together with all ancillary and consequential works associated therewith.

DECISION

APPROVE the above proposed road development in accordance with the said documentation based on the reasons and considerations under and subject to the conditions set out below.

REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

In reaching its decision in this matter the Board had regard to the information contained in the environmental impact statement and the supplementary information in relation to the proposed Dunkettle Interchange Improvement Motorway Scheme, 2012 submitted to An Bord Pleanála on the 14 th day of November, 2012, the 15 th day of November, 2012 and the 9th day of January, 2013, the submissions made in relation to the likely effects on the environment of the said proposed scheme and the report of the person who conducted the oral hearing, and had regard in particular to:

(a) the strategic role of the Dunkettle Interchange Improvement Motorway Scheme, 2012 in facilitating connectivity in the national road network on the route the provision of which is an objective in the Southern and Eastern Regional Operational Programme provided for in the National Development Plan 2007-2013, the National Spatial

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Strategy for 2002-2020 and the Regional Planning Guidelines for the South-West Region 2010-2022,

(b) the provisions of the Cork Area Strategic Plan 2001-2020, the Cork County Development Plan 2009, the Cork City Development Plan 2009-2015 and the Blarney Electoral Area Local Area Plan 2011,

(c) the level of congestion currently being experienced at the interchange,

(d) the proposals for improvements to the local road network including access to and from Little Island,

(e) the proposals to facilitate future access to a local railway station and park and ride facilities,

(f) the proposals for dedicated cycle and pedestrian connectivity through the proposed road development,

(g) the environmental sensitivity of the site of the proposed road development and its environs, and

(h) the nature and extent of the mitigation measures set out in the environmental impact statement received by An Bord Pleanála on the 19 th day of July, 2012, and as set out in the revised schedule of environmental commitments submitted to the oral hearing on the 9th day of January, 2013.

Having regard to the nature, scale and design of the proposed road development, the environmental impact statement submitted with the application, the submissions on file and received at the oral hearing and the Inspector’s assessment of environmental impacts, which is noted, the Board completed an environmental impact assessment and concluded that the proposed road development would not be likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment.

Having regard to the nature, scale and design of the proposed road development, the Natura impact statement submitted with the application, the submissions on file and received at the oral hearing and the Inspector’s assessment, which is noted, the Board completed an appropriate assessment of the impacts of the proposed road development on the Blackwater River candidate Special Area of Conservation, the Great Island Special Area of Conservation and the Cork Harbour Special Protection Area. The Board concluded that the proposed road development, in itself or in combination with

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other plans or projects, would not adversely affect the integrity of the European sites in view of the conservation objectives for those sites.

It is considered that, subject to compliance with the conditions set out below, the proposed road development would not have significant negative environmental effects on the residential, farming and business community in the vicinity of the scheme, would be acceptable in terms of the resulting visual and landscape impacts and would, therefore, be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

CONDITIONS

1. The proposed road development shall be carried out in accordance with the plans, drawings and documentation submitted with the application and at the oral hearing, including the environmental impact statement and Natura impact statement, supporting documentation, and revised schedule of environmental commitments submitted to the oral hearing on the 9 th day of January, 2013.

Reason: In the interest of clarity and to mitigate the environmental effects of the proposed road development, and to protect the amenities of properties in the vicinity.

2. The applicant shall provide for and adhere to the following requirements in the proposed road development:

(a) Following commissioning of the proposed road development, the shall, at intervals not exceeding twenty four months, review and upgrade the regional traffic model. At each review the road authority shall, in addition to measurement of traffic flows and validation of the model, include specific inputs for extant grants of planning permission within the Cork Metropolitan area. It shall publish this traffic flow information on the website of the National Roads Authority, and

(b) Within six months of the date of the Board Order an automatic traffic counter shall be provided on a permanent basis on the N40 National Primary Road in close proximity to the Jack Lynch Tunnel to provide on-going recording and monitoring of traffic flows.

Reason: To provide for on-going monitoring and review of traffic flows on the road network at the interchange, in order to indicate capacity to ______04.HA0039 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 5

facilitate traffic generated by additional development, having particular regard to the capacity constraints of the Jack Lynch Tunnel.

3. The proposed cycle path from the Dunkettle roundabout extending along Link T1 shall be omitted in its entirety.

Reason: The Board has concerns regarding this proposed cycle route from the perspectives of potential for conflict/accidents and inefficiencies in traffic flow. The Board considered that there may be preferable cycle routes available to cater for those travelling from Dunkettle roundabout to Little Island such as across the tunnel to the East following a route which avoids the busiest junctions and roads and which might be pursued by the National Roads Authority.

Member of An Bord Pleanála duly authorised to authenticate the seal of the Board.

Dated this day of 2013.

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