Connemara Greenway - Clifden to Oughterard Environmental Impact Statement Volume1- Main Report May 2012 MGE0269CR0006 rpsgroup.com/ireland Connemara Greenway Project – Clifden to Oughterard Environmental Impact Statement Volume 2 - Appendices DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET Client Galway County Council Project Title Connemara Greenway Project – Clifden to Oughterard Document Title Environmental Impact Statement – Volume 2 Appendices Document No. MGE0269RP0003 No. of DCS TOC Text List of Tables List of Figures This Document Appendices Comprises 1 - 140 - - 4 Rev. Status Author(s) Reviewed By Approved By Office of Origin Issue Date F01 Final P. Kearney W. Madden G. Carty Galway 14th May 2012 rpsgroup.com/ireland Appendix A Appendix A.1 - Constraints Stage Consultation Responses Received Appendix B Appendix B.1 - Bridge Assessment Appendix C Appendix C.1 - NPWS Designated Sites - Site synopsis Appendix C.2 - Freshwater Pearl Mussel Survey Appendix C.3 - Characterisation of Potential Impacts to Key Ecological Receptors Appendix D Appendix D.1 - Record of Monuments and Places within the Surrounding Area Appendix D.2 - Stray Finds Within the Surrounding Area Appendix D.3 - Protected Structures and NIAH Structures within the Surrounding Area Appendix D.4 - Legislative Framework Protecting the Archaeological Resource Appendix D.5 - Legislative Framework Protecting the Architectural Resource Appendix D.6 - Impact Assessment and the Cultural Heritage Resource Appendix D.7 - Mitigation Measures and the Cultural Heritage Resource Appendix D.8 - Photographs for Chapter 13 Archaeology, Architectural and Cultural Heritage. APPENDIX A Consultation Appendix A.1 - Constraints Stage Consultation Responses Received APPENDIX B Bridge Assessment Appendix B.1 - Bridge Assessment Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line Rep/219233/S001 issue1 | 16 March 2012 This report takes into account the particular instructions and requirements of our client. It is not intended for and should not be relied upon by any third party and no responsibility is undertaken to any third party. Job number 219233-00 Ove Arup & Partners Ireland Arup 21 Middle St Galway Ireland www.arup.com Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Assessment of Cloonbeg Bridge 2 2.1 Abutments 2 2.2 Bridge Deck and Beams 2 3 Proposed New Structure for Cloonbeg Bridge 3 4 Assessment of Athry Bridge 4 4.1 Abutments 4 4.2 Bridge Deck 4 5 Proposed New Structure for Athry Bridge 5 Appendices Appendix A Sketches 1- 3 Appendix B Photographs Cloonbeg Bridge Appendix C Photographs Athry River Bridge Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line 1 Introduction 1.1 Galway County Council engaged Arup to prepare a Structural Review Report on 2 No. Bridges (Cloonbeg Bridge and Athry River Bridge) on the disused Galway/Clifden Railway line. Specifically the brief includes (Ref Email Mr K Lydon 30 June 2011). A Structural Report on abutments of both bridges An assessment on the deck and beams of the Cloonbeg Bridge A plan for both bridges for new spans 1.2 A visual inspection of both bridge locations was carried out in December 2011 jointly by Mr Hugh Griffin (Arup) and Mr Kurt Lydon (Galway Co Co). The brief was further clarified as follows: The re-development of the bridges will form part of a greenway/cycleway suitable for pedestrians/cyclists The Cloonbeg existing bridge deck is to be retained The Athry bridge is to be rendered suitable for traffic by tractors and other small vehicles Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup Page 1 J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line 2 Assessment of Cloonbeg Bridge 2.1 Abutments 2.1.1 A visual inspection of both abutments was carried out from the river bank. The river was in spate at the date of the inspection. The central pier could not be inspected (except from the bridge deck) at close range. 2.1.2 Both abutments and the central pier are constructed in masonry. There are no obvious cracks or bulges in any of the structures. 2.1.3 There was no obvious evidence of structural impairment due to scouring or other cause. 2.2 Bridge Deck and Beams 2.2.1 The bridge consists of two spans each of approximately 15.5m (based on information provided by Galway Co Co). As noted above each span is supported on a central masonry pier and on a masonry abutment at the rivers edge. 2.2.2 The existing bridge deck consists of two main steel beams (spaced approximately 4.3m apart) supporting steel transverse beams (at 1.25m centres) which in turn support a steel decking. The decking carries a concrete/granular filling. There is a significant build up of rubble debris and plant growth on the bridge decking. The existing arrangement is shown in Sketch 01. 2.2.3 The main steel beams are plate girders with stiffeners at 1.25m c/c (i.e. at each transverse beam). There is significant corrosion on the girders themselves and many of the stiffeners have rusted away. Rivets are also missing at plate connections. We do not consider that the girders are suitable as structural members although they are to be retained for historical reasons. 2.2.4 The transfer beams are similarly corroded in some locations particularly at connections to the girders. The steel decking has corroded through in some locations. We believe that the new pedestrian bridge should not rely on either the transverse beams or the existing decking although they will be retained. Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup Page 2 J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line 3 Proposed New Structure for Cloonbeg Bridge 3.1 As noted earlier, the existing structure is not to be relied on. We propose to erect a new lightweight steel and timber structure over the existing. Details are shown in Sketch 02. 3.2 The design takes account of live loading from pedestrians and cyclists (5Kn/m2) and no vehicular access is to be allowed onto the bridge. 3.3 The existing bridge structure is to be retained and maintained. Apart from the historical significance of the bridge, the dead weight is necessary to limit pedestrian generated vibrations to acceptable levels. 3.4 All debris must be removed from the existing deck. The existing bridge will act as a temporary platform for the construction of the new structure. Because of the restricted access to the bridge, it is likely that the main beams will arrive in sections and be spliced together insitu. 3.5 The details shown are for the purpose of illustrating the feasibility of construction. They are not to be used for construction. Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup Page 3 J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line 4 Assessment of Athry Bridge 4.1 Abutments 4.1.1 A visual inspection of both abutments was carried out from the river bank. The river was in spate at the date of the inspection. 4.1.2 The abutments are constructed in masonry (measured at 520mm at top) and are currently acting as cantilevers as the bridge deck has been removed. There are no obvious cracks, bulges or lack of verticality in the abutment walls. 4.1.3 There was no obvious evidence of structural impairment due to scouring or other cause. 4.2 Bridge Deck 4.2.1 The original bridge deck has been removed and the bridge is not currently spanned. Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup Page 4 J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No. Bridges on disused Galway/Clifden Railway Line 5 Proposed New Structure for Athry Bridge 5.1 The bridge span is short (6m approx). We consider that the optimum design solution would involve the erection of a steel structure (3 no beams and metal decking) to act as a permanent shutter for an insitu concrete deck. Details are shown in Sketch 03. 5.2 The outline design is based on a single Gross Weight Vehicle of 7.5 tonnes giving rise to axel loads as set out in Annex D of BD21/01 (Assessment of Highway Bridges and Structures Vol 3 Section 4). If a heavier vehicle is considered appropriate then the design will need to be altered. 5.3 The details shown are for the purpose of illustrating the feasibility of construction. They are not to be used for construction. Rep/219233/S001 | issue1 | 16 March 2012 | Arup Page 5 J:\219000\219233-00\4. INTERNAL PROJECT DATA\4-04 REPORTS\4-04-01 BUILDINGS\REPORT DRAFT 1.DOCX Galway County Council Bridge Assessment for Galway County Council Structural Review of 2 No.