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Inspector's Report An Bord Pleanála Inspector’s Report Applications : 09.HA0046 M7 Osberstown Interchange and R407 Sallins Bypass Scheme : 09.MA0013 Kildare County Council M7 Osberstown Interchange Upgrade Motorway Scheme Order 2013 : 09.KA0031 Kildare County Council M7 Osberstown Interchange and Sallins Bypass Scheme, Compulsory Purchase Order 2013 Applicant : Kildare County Council Site Inspections : 13 th and 19 th March, 6 th , 15 th and 17 th May 2014 Oral Hearing : 3 rd , 4 th and 6 th June 2014 Inspectors : Mairead Kenny and John Desmond HA0046 / MA0013 / KA0031 An Bord Pleanála Page 1 of 75 INTRODUCTION The report concerns the proposed M7 Osberstown Interchange and R407 Sallins Bypass Scheme and considers three concurrent applications KA0031, MA0013 and HA0046. The report should be read in conjunction with the accompanying report of Mr John Desmond, Planning Inspector which addresses the traffic and transport impacts of the scheme, the modelling undertaken, the need for the scheme, alternatives investigated and related matters. A related scheme is before the Board at present, namely the M7 Naas to Newbridge Bypass Upgrade Scheme. The two schemes have a physical interface at the proposed Osberstown Interchange. The applicant states that the operation of this scheme prior to the Naas to Newbridge Bypass Upgrade would not be feasible for reasons of traffic capacity. Cumulative impacts arising are considered in the EIS. The current scheme may be constructed in two phases, the Osberstown Interchange and the Sallins Bypass. The prior construction and operation of Osberstown Interchange is assessed as an ‘interim scenario’. The Board has previously considered an application for an interchange at this, albeit one of lesser capacity. The application was refused for reason of lack of definition of the route of the Sallins Bypass. The Board’s view was that the interchange and bypass should be considered together, even if they are separately constructed. Naas Town Council in its decision of February 2000 to grant permission for a development of 110 hectares of business park now known as Millennium Park. By condition it was required that the applicant design and construct an interchange at Osberstown. OVERVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT AND SITE CONTEXT The proposed road scheme runs generally from south to north between the Western Distributor Road in Naas and the R407 Clane Road to the north of Sallins. The scheme includes a new motorway interchange (Osberstown Interchange) at its southern extent and a Bypass of 3.65 kilometer length. The Bypass crosses through the original demesne lands of a protected structure, Osberstown House, passes under Osberstown Road and under the mainline railway prior to crossing the Grand Canal and, at two locations, the Liffey. The scheme for much of its length traverses a fine rural landscape and good agricultural land. It provides for a connection between the proposed Bypass and the main street in Sallins in the form of a ‘link road’. I describe the site and development in more detail below. The new interchange is to be located at an existing agricultural bridge which connects the former demesne lands of Osberstown House with lands to the south of the M7. The south of the M7 at this location is particularly defined by the emerging HA0046 / MA0013 / KA0031 An Bord Pleanála Page 2 of 75 industrial zone of Millennium Park. In the immediate vicinity of the proposed interchange is the major Kerry Group Global Technology and Innovation Centre which is under construction and a large attenuation pond, which is intended also to act as an amenity zone within the business district. To the north of the proposed interchange are farm buildings which appear to be part of the Osberstown House demesne. North of the interchange the Bypass commences, traversing a sharp north-westerly direction through lands to the front of Osberstown House, which are now in separate ownership under the same ownership as Millennium Park. This stretch of the Bypass is in cut or at grade from Ch0+300 and a landscaping scheme has been prepared. In this general location also the Bypass would cross some small streams and under a 10kV power line. The Bypass continues to traverse in a north-south direction towards Osberstown Road, a minor road which would be re-aligned to cross over the Bypass and in relation to which specific landscaping measures are also proposed. There is a modern dwellinghouse at this location and further west is Hill House, a two-storey period building. Access to the modern dwellinghouse would be re-located. The Bypass then crosses under the mainline railway and after about 100m at the location of a proposed attenuation pond, it rises and passes over the canal. There are a few houses at this location also. Between the canal and the first Liffey crossing is proposed roundabout which provides the connection for the Sallins Link Road. The link road would mainly pass through zoned lands. At its eastern end it would connect with Millbank housing estate and emerge at Main Street. A realigned access to this estate is proposed. In this general location the scheme also would impact on access to playing fields and would encroach marginally on the edge of an open space at Castlesize housing estate and pass to the north of a foul sewage pumping station, which is unaffected. The elevated Bypass is proposed to next traverse isolated agricultural lands to pass over the Liffey at the second crossing point a few hundred metres from the Clane Road. Further attenuation ponds are proposed along this section. A ruined watchtower is positioned close to the line of the road. The Bypass would connect with the Clane Road at a roundabout, close to a dwellinghouse, the access to which would be relocated. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL Scheme objectives The objectives of the scheme are identified by the applicant below. - The interchange will provide for better balance between regional and national roads thereby reducing congestion on the local and regional road network and HA0046 / MA0013 / KA0031 An Bord Pleanála Page 3 of 75 reducing traffic flows at motorway junctions and alleviating congestion in the towns. - Reduce journey times for long distance and local traffic and improve safety along existing roads and junctions. - Public transport services including local bus trips and train station access will be improved and greater use of existing ‘park and ride’ will be encouraged. - The Bypass will eliminate congestion in Sallins through removal of strategic traffic with benefits for cyclist, pedestrians and safety and amenity. - Facilitate the development of the North West Quadrant and provide connectivity to the regional road network north of the M7. - In the longer term assist in the achievement of a Public Transport Interchange should such development proceed. The combined EIS for the Osberstown Interchange and the Sallins Bypass are stated to comprehensively consider the relationship between the two infrastructure projects and the assessment is based on concurrent construction for the purposes of a worst case assessment. The scheme may be constructed in two phases comprising the interchange and, secondly, the Sallins Bypass and the associated link road. In terms of timing of construction, the scheme will not be constructed prior to the Naas to Newbridge Bypass Upgrade Scheme. Scheme elements The main elements of the Scheme are described below. Osberstown Interchange will be a standard dumbbell interchange located between Newhall (J10) and Maudlins (J9) and positioned between the proposed Sallins Bypass and the local and regional road network to the south. The interchange will be fully connected in terms of provision of on and off slip roads. The interchange design has capacity to cater for future traffic needs to 2030 design year. Segregated slip lanes are proposed to the four proposed slip lanes to the interchange to facilitate free-flow movements and increased capacity at the interchange and are designed with auxiliary lanes to the motorway. The southern section of the Bypass is dual carriageway in design up to the junction with the proposed link road. The northern section is a single carriageway up to the Clane Road junction. HA0046 / MA0013 / KA0031 An Bord Pleanála Page 4 of 75 In all seven structures are proposed including the interchange, the Osberstown Road overbridge, the Sallins Bypass Railway Bridge, the Grand Canal Underbridge, the two Liffey Underbridges and a Sallins Link Road Culvert. Link roads are proposed and are stated to have been designed in accordance with DMURS. These are the Sallins link road between the Bypass to the town centre and the Distributor Link Road between the interchange and Western Distributor Road. Figures 4.2a and 4.2b show all proposed cyclist and pedestrian facilities which include dedicated paths along the Sallins Bypass between the railway crossing and the Clane road, use of local roads between the railway line and Naas and a dedicated pedestrian and cyclist connection between the Canal Road and Western Distributor road. There are also cyclists and pedestrians along the Sallins Link Road. The development includes a new drainage system and improvements to the existing drainage where necessary. Measures to contain spillages and attenuation flows and contain normal road-related pollutants are proposed and are described under the EIA section of this report. The demolition of six structures is proposed. These are one shed on the proposed R407 at Ch 1+610, three sheds on the Osberstown Road at Ch. 0+370, one dwellinghouse on the Canal Road (plot 120) and an accommodation overbridge. No permitted developments are impacted. OISB may be progressed in two contracts depending on finances. An interim scenario is thus presented in the EIS which considers the consequences of constructing the interchange separate to the bypass. In order to minimise disruption to road users two lanes of traffic flow will be maintained on the M7 in both directions between 6am and 10pm.
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