Limerick Northern Distributor Road Constraints Study Volume 1 - Main Text Draft Work In Progress - January 2011 Roughan & O‟Donovan Clare County Council Consulting Engineers Limerick Northern Distributor Road Clare County Council Limerick Northern Distributor Road Constraints Study Draft – Work In Progress Document No: ................. CSR/001 Made: ................................ Andrew Warwick/Lewis Feely Checked ........................... Michael Conroy Approved ......................... Richard Power Ref: 10.194.10 – Constraints Study Draft - January 2011 (W.I.P) Page i Roughan & O‟Donovan Clare County Council Consulting Engineers Limerick Northern Distributor Road Clare County Council Limerick Northern Distributor Road Constraints Study Table of Contents 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Need for the Scheme .............................................................................................. 1 1.2 Strategic and Local Policy Context .......................................................................... 3 1.2.1 The National Spatial Strategy (NSS) ................................................................ 3 1.2.2 The National Development Plan, 2007 – 2013 ................................................. 3 1.2.3 Regional Planning Guidelines 2010-2022 ........................................................ 4 1.2.4 County and Local Development Plans ............................................................. 4 1.2.5 Plans and Programmes of the National Roads Authority (NRA) ....................... 5 1.3 Scheme Development ............................................................................................. 5 1.4 Format of the Constraints Study .............................................................................. 6 1.5 Difficulties Encountered ........................................................................................... 6 2.0 DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDY AREA .................................................................. 7 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 7 2.2 Defining the Study Area ........................................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Land Use Constraints ...................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Ecological Constraints ..................................................................................... 8 2.2.3 Engineering ..................................................................................................... 8 2.2.4 Archaeology ..................................................................................................... 9 2.2.5 Purpose of the Scheme ................................................................................. 10 3.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ....................................................................................... 11 3.1 Details of Publicity Information .............................................................................. 11 3.3.1 Briefing .......................................................................................................... 11 3.3.2 Newspaper Advertisements ........................................................................... 11 3.3.3 Radio Advertisements .................................................................................... 11 3.3.4 Web Advertisements ...................................................................................... 11 3.3.5 Publicity Information Leaflets ......................................................................... 11 3.4 Responses to the Publicity Information .................................................................. 12 3.4.1 Public Submissions ........................................................................................ 12 4.0 ENGINEERING AND TOPOGRAPHY ..................................................................... 14 4.1 Geographical Description ...................................................................................... 14 4.2 Flooding and Drainage .......................................................................................... 15 4.3 Existing & Future Road Network ............................................................................ 16 4.3.1 Existing Road Network ................................................................................... 16 4.3.2 Future Road Network ..................................................................................... 17 4.3.3 Railways ........................................................................................................ 17 4.4 Watercourse Crossings ......................................................................................... 18 4.4.1 River Shannon Crossings .............................................................................. 18 4.4.2 Headrace Canal Crossing .............................................................................. 19 4.4.3 Tailrace Canal Crossing ................................................................................. 20 4.4.4 River Blackwater Crossing ............................................................................. 21 4.4.5 Errina Canal Crossing .................................................................................... 21 4.5 Existing Services ................................................................................................... 22 Ref: 10.194.10 – Constraints Study Draft - January 2011 (W.I.P) Page ii Roughan & O‟Donovan Clare County Council Consulting Engineers Limerick Northern Distributor Road 5.0 TRAFFIC AND ROAD ACCIDENTS ........................................................................ 23 5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 23 5.2 Existing Traffic Data and Reports .......................................................................... 23 5.2.1 Proposed Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road .................................. 23 5.2.2 Mid West Strategic Model .............................................................................. 23 5.3 Traffic Accidents .................................................................................................... 24 6.0 GEOLOGY, HYDROLOGY & HYDROGEOLOGY ................................................... 25 6.1 Soils and Geology ................................................................................................. 25 6.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 25 6.1.2 Methodology .................................................................................................. 25 6.1.3 Sources of Information ................................................................................... 25 6.1.4 Geomorphology ............................................................................................. 25 6.1.5 Solid Geology ................................................................................................ 25 6.1.6 Subsoil and Soil Deposits .............................................................................. 27 6.1.7 Economic Geology ......................................................................................... 30 6.1.8 Geological Heritage ....................................................................................... 31 6.1.9 Landslides ..................................................................................................... 31 6.1.10 Inventory Geological Constraints ................................................................... 31 6.1.11 Sources of information & References ............................................................. 31 6.2 Hydrology .............................................................................................................. 32 6.2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 32 6.2.2 Methodology .................................................................................................. 32 6.2.3 Existing Hydrological Regime ........................................................................ 32 6.2.4 Surface Water Features & Flooding ............................................................... 33 6.2.5 Tidal Constraints ............................................................................................ 34 6.2.6 Ardnacrusha Power Station ........................................................................... 34 6.2.7 Catchments ................................................................................................... 35 6.3 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................................ 36 6.3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 36 6.3.2 Methodology .................................................................................................. 36 6.3.3 Aquifer Types and Classification .................................................................... 36 6.3.4 Aquifer Vulnerability ....................................................................................... 37 6.3.5 Groundwater Resources ...............................................................................