M1 Junction 39-42 Managed Motorway
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M1 Junction 39-42 Managed Motorway Environmental Assessment Report Volume 1: Main Report MMDH-M1J3942-30-R004 Version 4.0 Document No: MMDH -M1J3942 -30 -R004 Working on behalf of the Highways Agency Highways Agency Project Support Framework M1 Junction 39-42 Managed Motorways Environmental Assessment Report – Volume 1:Main Report Author: Various Checker: Carolyn Francis/Jill Approver: Carolyn Francis Report MMDH-M1J3942-30- Date: 12/07/13 No: R004 Contents Amendment Record - This report has been issued and amended as follows: Issue Version Description Date Signed 1.0 Draft 4/3/13 2.0 Final 12/4/13 3.0 Final following further HA comments 8/5/13 4.0 Final (incorporating traffic data sensitivity test and 12/07/13 consultation responses) This report has been prepared for the Highways Agency in accordance with the requirements as stated in the PSF Tender Documents Vol 2 Framework Information & Scope dated 05/05/10. Halcrow Hyder JV cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or reliance on the contents of this report by any third party. Halcrow Hyder Joint Venture Burderop Park, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 0QD Document Control Document Title Environmental Assessment Report Chapters 1 –4 Jill Rankin Chapter 5 – URS Chapter 6 – John Ramsay Chapter 7 – David Whitehorne Chapter 8 – Dan Lean Author Chapter 9 – Richard Stait Chapter 10 – Lorna Napier Chapter 11 – Lorna Napier Chapter 12 – Lorna Napier Chapter 13 - Lorna Napier Owner David Pilsworth Document Status Final Revision History Version Date Description Author 1.0 4/3/13 Draft EAR Various 2.0 12/4/13 Final EAR Various 3.0 8/5/13 Final EAR following further HA comments Various Final (incorporating traffic data sensitivity test 4.0 12/7/13 and consultation responses) Various Distribution List Name Role Richard Bernhardt HA Environment Approvals Name Signature Title Date of Issue Version Richard Bernhardt This sheet is to be completed each time the Business Case is updated or used as the basis the any investment submission. The document is owned by the DfT Client and any change to the content, and Executive Summary in particular, must be approved by him/her. The original format of this document is copyright to the Highways Agency. Table of Contents Non Technical Summary Chapter 1 – Introduction Chapter 2 – The Project Chapter 3 – Alternatives Considered Chapter 4 – Environmental Impact Assessment Methodology Chapter 5 – Air Quality Chapter 6 – Landscape and Visual Assessment Chapter 7 – Ecology and Nature Conservation Chapter 8 – Materials Chapter 9 – Noise and Vibration Chapter 10 – Effects on all Travellers Chapter 11 – Assessment of Cumulative Effects Chapter 12 – Outline Construction Environmental Management Plan Chapter 13 – Conclusions References Abbreviations Glossary Volume 2: Figures Volume 3: Appendices Figure 1.1 Location Plan Figure 2.1 General Arrangement Figure 2.2 Typical Gantry Configurations Figure 2.3 Environmental Constraints Plan Figure 5.1 Air Quality Management Areas Figure 5.2 Air Quality Monitoring Data Figure 5.3 Air Quality Passive Monitoring Locations Figure 5.4 – 5.19 Air Quality Receptors Modelled Figure 6.1 Zone of Visual Impact Assessment Figure 6.2 Landscape Character Areas Figure 6.3 Photo Viewpoints Figure 6.4 Existing Views (Winter) Figure 6.5 Visual Analysis and Mitigation Figure 9.1 Noise Assessment Study Area Figure 9.2 Noise Change Plot Do-Min 2015/Do-Min 2030 Figure 9.3 Noise Change Plot Do-Min 2015/Do-Some 2015 Figure 9.4 Noise Change Plot Do-Min 2015/Do-Some 2030 Appendix 5.1 Additional Local Air Quality Methodology Appendix 5.2 Air Quality Results for all Receptors Appendix 5.3 Traffic Data Comparison Appendix 7.1 Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey Report Appendix 7.2 Great Crested Newt Surveys Appendix 7.3 Reptile Survey Appendix 9.1 English Road Network Map Appendix 9.2 Noise Action Planning Major Sources Non Technical Summary A.1 Introduction A.1.1 The M1 is a strategic route for local, regional, and international traffic, carrying in excess of 153,000 vehicles a day. Congestion is already a serious problem between Junctions 39 and 42 and, based on national road traffic forecasts, the extent and severity of congestion is expected to increase over the next 15 to 20 years. A.1.2 The Highways Agency (HA) aims to increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve this busy section of the M1 by making use of the existing hard shoulder together with traffic monitoring and signalling technology to add extra capacity as an alternative to conventional motorway widening - known generically as Managed Motorways schemes. A.1.3 The Halcrow Hyder Joint Venture (HHJV) has been commissioned by the HA to assist with the completion of the statutory procedures required to implement the scheme including the assessment of potential environmental impacts. A.1.4 Statutory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is only required for developments that exceed certain thresholds and are predicted to result in a significant environmental effect. The HA implements screening procedures to determine whether their trunk road and motorway developments will require formal EIA. A.1.5 The proposed M1 Junction 39-42 scheme is deemed to be a relevant project under the EIA Regulations because the proposed works are over 1 hectare in size. Accordingly, the scheme has been subject to a non-statutory environmental assessment to identify its potential environmental effects and their significance in order to inform the decision on whether a statutory EIA under the EIA Regulations will be required. A.1.6 This Environmental Assessment Report (EAR) presents the findings of the non-statutory environmental assessment and forms the basis for a Record of Determination (RoD) which recommends whether a statutory EIA is required. This is a legal requirement of the Secretary of State (SoS). A Notice of Determination (NoD) informing whether a statutory EIA would or would not be required will be published by the HA on behalf of the SoS in the London Gazette and the local press. The NoD is subject to a challenge period of a minimum of six weeks. A.2 The Proposed Scheme A.2.1 The Proposed Scheme involves converting the existing hard shoulder between junctions 39 and 42 of the M1 to a permanently open running lane 24 hours a day. This type of scheme is called Managed Motorways - All Lane Running (MM-ALR). A.2.2 Managed motorways involves the use of monitoring and signalling technology, such as CCTV and matrix variable message signs, to manage and control traffic flows when an incident occurs (eg breakdown or accident) or traffic volumes reach a level such that flows are adversely affected. A.2.3 The requirement for control technology leads to the need for more signs and gantries than are present for standard ‘non-managed’ motorway sections. These are provided through a combination of verge mounted ‘hockey-stick’ type signs and superspan gantries that extend across both carriageways. A.2.4 In addition, MM-ALR adds extra physical capacity by converting the hard shoulder into a permanent running lane. Where MM-ALR is being operated and there is, therefore, no hard shoulder, dedicated emergency refuge areas (ERAs) with emergency telephones are provided at intervals in case of breakdown. A.3 Land Use, Setting and Land Take A.3.1 The M1 motorway between junctions 39 and 42 links the major urban settlements of Leeds and Wakefield. Leeds and Wakefield are high level service centres attracting visitors from the whole of the study area. A number of smaller settlements are located in a corridor approximately 5 km either side of the motorway, such as the villages of Kirkhamgate and Crigglestone to the east and the towns of Horbury and Ossett to the west. Many people living in the surrounding communities work in Leeds or Wakefield, and to a lesser extent the towns of Horbury and Ossett, and need to use the M1 to travel to work. A.3.2 At the southern end of the proposed scheme, the motorway runs close to residential areas on the outskirts of Wakefield and crosses predominantly agricultural land towards the northern end of the scheme. The corridor is located almost entirely within Green Belt largely reflecting the value of the rural resource in this historically industrialised region. A.3.3 The proposed works will be contained entirely within the existing HA owned land, leaving adjacent land uses unaffected by land-take. A.4 Approach A.4.1 This assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 11, Interim Advice Note (IAN) 125/09: Supplementary guidance for users of DMRB Volume 11 and Interim Advice Note (IAN) 161/12: Managed Motorways – All Lane Running. The DMRB is a document produced by the HA to provide official standards and advice relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk roads including motorways in the United Kingdom. Volume 11 relates to Environmental Assessment. A.4.2 An Environmental Scoping Report was undertaken by WSP in 2011 on three proposed options for the Junction 39 to 42 scheme in order to identify those topics requiring consideration in the environmental assessment (and the appropriate level of assessment required). A.4.3 Consultation with the statutory environmental bodies (SEBs); Environment Agency, Natural England and English Heritage, was undertaken at the scoping stage, again at the start of the assessment stage when the preferred scheme was identified and this draft EAR will also be sent to the SEBs for their final comments prior to publication of the RoD. A.4.4 In addition to the SEBs consultation, Public Information Exhibitions (PIEs) were held in the local area on 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th of February 2013.