N52 Ardee Bypass
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ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County Council Consulting Engineers N52 Ardee Bypass N52 ARDEE BYPASS Junction Strategy October 2020 19.153 October 2020 Page i ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County Council Consulting Engineers N52 Ardee Bypass N52 Ardee Bypass Junction Strategy Document No: ...................................... N52A-ROD-HGN-SW_AE-RP-CH-20001 Author: .................................................. Richard Spencer Checker: ............................................... Gemma Rothwell Approver: .............................................. Richard Spencer Document No Revision Description Made Checked Approved Date RP-CH-20001 A1 Junction Strategy RJS GR RJS 02/10/2020 19.153 October 2020 Page i ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County Council Consulting Engineers N52 Ardee Bypass N52 Ardee Bypass Junction Strategy TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 1.1 Existing N52 ....................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Proposed Mainline Cross Section ....................................................................... 2 1.3 Principal Functions of the Proposed Project ........................................................ 3 1.3.1 Economy ................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2 Safety ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3.3 Environment ............................................................................................ 4 1.3.4 Accessibility & Social Inclusion ................................................................ 4 1.3.5 Integration ............................................................................................... 4 1.3.6 Physical Activity ....................................................................................... 4 1.4 Structure of the Report ........................................................................................ 5 2. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS ............................................................................ 6 2.1 Traffic flows ........................................................................................................ 6 2.2 Junction Frequency............................................................................................. 6 2.3 Junction Type ..................................................................................................... 7 2.3.1 Priority Junction ....................................................................................... 7 2.3.2 Roundabout Junction ............................................................................... 8 3. JUNCTION OPTIONS ....................................................................................... 9 3.1 Existing Roads .................................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 Road 1 – Silverhill Road – CH2+400 ..................................................... 10 3.1.2 Road 2 – Townparks Road – CH3+200 ................................................. 10 3.1.3 Road 3 – Mullanstown Road – CH3+750 ............................................... 11 3.1.4 Road 4 – N2 – Carrickmacross Road – CH4+490 ................................. 12 3.2 Public Consultation Feedback ........................................................................... 13 3.3 Junction Options ............................................................................................... 13 3.3.1 Option 1 ................................................................................................. 20 3.3.2 Option 2 ................................................................................................. 20 3.3.3 Option 3 ................................................................................................. 20 3.3.4 Option 4 ................................................................................................. 20 3.3.5 Option 5 ................................................................................................. 20 4. JUNCTION ASSESSMENT ............................................................................. 22 4.1 Diversion Lengths ............................................................................................. 22 4.1.1 Option 1 ................................................................................................. 22 4.1.2 Option 2 ................................................................................................. 24 4.1.3 Option 3 ................................................................................................. 27 4.1.4 Option 4 ................................................................................................. 30 4.1.5 Option 5 ................................................................................................. 33 19.153 October 2020 Page ii ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County Council Consulting Engineers N52 Ardee Bypass 4.1.6 Summary ............................................................................................... 36 4.2 Route Suitability ................................................................................................ 38 4.3 Junction Capacity ............................................................................................. 45 4.3.1 Option 1 ................................................................................................. 45 4.3.2 Option 2 ................................................................................................. 49 4.3.3 Option 3 ................................................................................................. 53 4.3.4 Option 4 ................................................................................................. 57 4.3.5 Option 5 ................................................................................................. 60 4.3.6 Junction Capacity Summary .................................................................. 63 4.4 Economic Assessment ...................................................................................... 64 4.4.1 Network Statistics .................................................................................. 64 4.4.2 Economic Assessment .......................................................................... 65 4.5 Safety Assessment ........................................................................................... 65 4.6 Environmental Assessment ............................................................................... 67 4.6.1 Air Quality and Climate .......................................................................... 68 4.6.2 Noise ..................................................................................................... 76 4.6.3 Biodiversity ............................................................................................ 77 4.6.4 Agriculture ............................................................................................. 78 4.6.5 Non-agricultural Properties .................................................................... 78 4.6.6 Landscape and Visual ........................................................................... 81 4.6.7 Soils and Geology ................................................................................. 82 4.6.8 Hydrology .............................................................................................. 82 4.6.9 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................ 84 4.6.10 Summary ............................................................................................... 85 5. PREFERRED OPTION .................................................................................... 86 19.153 October 2020 Page iii ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County Council Consulting Engineers N52 Ardee Bypass 1. INTRODUCTION This report has been prepared to develop the junction strategy for the N52 Ardee Bypass, assessing each side road intersected by the preferred route option, to determine the optimal junction configuration and type. This report examines the junction options available for the scheme, whilst considering design standards, predicted traffic flows and junction capacity that justify and support the selection of the most appropriate junction type. 1.1 Existing N52 The N52 National Secondary route is approximately 174km in length, running from the junction of the N2 in Ardee, through the counties of Louth, Meath, Westmeath, Offaly, and Tipperary to its termination at Junction 26 on the M7 at Nenagh. The N52 commences in the town of Ardee and passes through the towns of Kells, Mullingar, Tullamore, Birr and Nenagh. The N52 is a major northeast - southwest arterial route providing a direct route from the north east of the country and beyond to Belfast, and the south west of the country, in conjunction with providing connectivity to the National Primary Routes of the M1 (via the N33 or R215), N2, N3, N4, N5 (via the N4), M6 and M7 which form part of the EU TEN-T Core and Comprehensive road network. The N52 directly links the Regional Centres of Athlone and Limerick City to Dundalk, via the N33 and M1. Figure 1.1.1 Scheme Location The section of the N52 and N2 under consideration as part of this project is approximately 6km in length, commencing in the townland of Mandistown at 19.153 October 2020 Page 1 ROUGHAN & O'DONOVAN Louth County