N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Part A - Constraints Study Report August 2009 Wexford County Council N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme 247517 06 B 01 August 2009 Part A - Constraints Study Report August 2009 Wexford County Council Wexford County Council County Hall Spawell Road Wexford Mott MacDonald Ireland, 5 Eastgate Avenue, Eastgate, Little Island, Co Cork, Ireland T +353 (0)21 4809 800 F +353 (0)21 4809 801 W www.mottmac.ie N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Issue and revision record Revision Date Originator Checker Approver Description A May 2009 R Hallissey J Shinkwin J T Murphy First Issue P Kelly B Aug 2009 R Hallissey J Shinkwin J T Murphy Second Issue J Hawe P Kelly This document is issued for the party which commissioned it We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this and for specific purposes connected with the above-captioned document being relied upon by any other party, or being used project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission used for any other purpose. which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties This document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from us and from the party which commissioned it. T +353 (0)21 4809 800 F +353 (0)21 4809 801 W www.mottmac.ie N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report Master Index N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme • Part A – Constraints Study Report • Part B – Constraints Study Report Appendices 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page vii N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report Table of Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Methodology 2 2.1 General Methodology 2 2.2 Format of Report 2 2.3 Study Team 3 3 Overview of the Constraints Study Area 4 4 Background to the Project 8 5 Need for the Scheme 10 5.1 National and Regional Policy 10 5.1.1 National Development Plan 2007 - 2013 10 5.1.2 Transport 21 11 5.1.3 National Spatial Strategy 2002 - 2020 11 5.1.4 Regional Development Plan 12 5.1.5 Wexford County Development Plan 2007 - 2013 12 5.2 Traffic 13 5.2.1 Introduction 13 5.2.2 Existing and Future Predicted Traffic Levels 13 5.3 Rosslare Europort 18 5.4 Traffic Accidents 18 6 Consultation 19 6.1 Statutory and Non-Statutory Consultation 19 6.2 First Public Consultation 26 7 Environmental Constraints 30 7.1 Land Use and Human Settlement 30 7.1.1 Introduction 30 7.1.2 Methodology 30 7.1.3 Population 30 7.1.4 Land Use 32 7.1.5 Economic Activity 36 7.1.6 Community Services 38 7.1.7 Summary of Land Use and Human Settlement Constraints 39 7.2 Infrastructure and Utilities 41 7.2.1 Introduction 41 7.2.2 Methodology 41 7.2.3 ESB 42 7.2.4 Bord Gáis Éireann 42 7.2.5 Eircom 42 7.2.6 Water and Sanitary Services 43 7.2.7 NTL/Chorus (UPC Ireland) 43 7.2.8 BT Ireland 43 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page viii N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report 7.2.9 Iarnród Éireann 43 7.2.10 Summary of Infrastructure and Utilities Constraints 43 7.3 Topography 44 7.3.1 Introduction 44 7.3.2 Methodology 44 7.3.3 Description of Topography 44 7.3.4 Summary of Topography Constraints 44 7.4 Air Quality 46 7.4.1 Introduction 46 7.4.2 Methodology 46 7.4.3 Existing Air Quality Conditions 47 7.4.4 Sources of Pollution (non - road) 49 7.4.5 Future Potential Sources of Air Pollution 51 7.4.6 Sensitive Receptors 51 7.4.7 Opportunities for Mitigation 52 7.4.8 Summary of Air Quality Constraints 52 7.5 Cultural Heritage 53 7.5.1 Introduction 53 7.5.2 Methodology 53 7.5.3 Baseline Environment 53 7.5.4 Summary of Cultural Heritage Constraints 56 7.6 Ecology 57 7.6.1 Introduction 57 7.6.2 Methodology 57 7.6.3 Designated Conservation Areas within the Study Area 58 7.6.4 Designated Conservation Sites within a 10 km Buffer of the Study Area 64 7.6.5 Protected Flora within the Study Area 70 7.6.6 Protected Fauna within the Study Area 71 7.6.7 Watercourses in the Study Area 72 7.6.8 Summary of Ecology Constraints 72 7.7 Landscape and Visual 74 7.7.1 Introduction 74 7.7.2 Methodology 74 7.7.3 Description of Existing Environment 74 7.7.4 Landscape and Visual Considerations 74 7.7.5 Summary of Landscape and Visual Aspects 80 7.8 Noise and Vibration 81 7.8.1 Introduction 81 7.8.2 Methodology 81 7.8.3 Sensitive Receptors within the Study Area 81 7.8.4 Prevailing Noise Climate 82 7.8.5 Potential Impacts of the Development 82 7.8.6 Opportunities for Mitigation 82 7.8.7 Summary of Noise and Vibration Constraints 84 7.9 Soils, Geology and Hydrogeology 85 7.9.1 Introduction 85 7.9.2 Methodology 85 7.9.3 Existing Environment 85 7.9.4 Summary of Soils, Geology and Hydrogeology Constraints 96 7.10 Water Quality and Fisheries/ Flooding 98 7.10.1 Introduction 98 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page ix N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report 7.10.2 Methodology 98 7.10.3 Description of Water Resources 98 7.10.4 Designations 100 7.10.5 Water Quality 101 7.10.6 Water Supply 104 7.10.7 Fisheries 104 7.10.8 Flooding/ Tidal Influences 106 7.10.9 Summary of Water Quality and Fisheries/Flooding Constraints 106 7.11 Summary Of Major Constraints Identified 108 8 Bibliography 110 Appendices – Contained in Part B Appendix 1a Statutory and Non-Statutory Consultation Letter Appendix 1b List of Statutory and Non-Statutory Consultees Appendix 1c Statutory and Non-Statutory Consultation Responses Appendix 1d First Public Consultation Brochure Appendix 2a Cultural Heritage Report by Aegis Archaeology Appendix 3a Site Synopses Appendix 3b I-WeBS Data for Wexford Harbour Subsites Appendix 4a Noise and Vibration Report by AWN Consulting Appendix 5a Groundwater Wells within the Study Area – Yield and Use Appendix 5b Pits and Quarries; Locations and Type Appendix 6a Water Quality in the Upper and Lower Slaney Estuary Appendix 6b Water Quality in the Slaney Estuary List of Figures – Contained in Part A Figure 3.1.1 Overview of Study Area Figure 5.1.1a/b Existing Road and Rail Network Figure 5.1.2a/b Accident Locations Figure 6.2.1 Responses to the importance of various impacts of the scheme Figure 6.2.2 Responses to importance of scheme Figure 6.2.3 Key concerns from comments received Figure 7.1.1 Villages/Settlements within the Study Area Figure 7.1.2 Population Densities within the Study Area Figure 7.1.3 Type of Farms in District Electoral Divisions Figure 7.1.4 Wexford Town Landuse Zoning Map Figure 7.1.5 Private/ Grant Aided Forestry Figure 7.1.6 Economic Activity Figure 7.2.1a/b ESB Services Figure 7.2.2a/b Eircom Services 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page x N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report Figure 7.2.3a/b Water and Sanitary Services Figure 7.4.1a/b Air Quality Sensitive Receptors Figure 7.5.1a/b Cultural Heritage Constraints within the Study Area Figure 7.6.1a/b Designated Conservation Sites within 10 km of Constraints Study Area and Records of Protected Species Figure 7.6.2 Bat Locations Figure 7.7.1 Landscape Character Assessment and Designated Scenic Routes Figure 7.8.1a/b Noise Sensitive Receptors Figure 7.9.1 Not Used Figure 7.9.2 Bedrock Geology Figure 7.9.3 Groundwater Aquifers Figure 7.9.4a/b Groundwater Wells Figure 7.9.5a/b Locations of Minerals, Pits and Quarries Figure 7.10.1a/b Principal Watercourses and Monitoring Stations Figure 7.10.2 Shellfish Designated Sites and Aquaculture Sites in Wexford harbour Figure 7.10.3a/b Flood Events Recorded in Study Area List of Tables – Contained in Part A Table 5.2.1 Average Annual Daily Traffic on Oilgate to Wexford Town Table 5.2.2 Average Annual Daily Traffic on Wexford Town Bypass section Table 5.2.3 Summary of 2007 AADT from traffic counts at Kilrane Table 5.2.4 Projected 2018 AADT on the N25 at Kilrane Table 5.2.5 Projected 2033 AADT on the N25 at Kilrane Table 6.1.1 Statutory and Non-Statutory Consultation Responses Table 7.1.1 Population Statistics Table 7.1.2 Number of Farms by Electoral Division (ED) and Area Farmed Table 7.2.1 Utility Correspondence Table 7.4.1 IPPC Licenced Activities either within the study area or within 3 km of the study area Table 7.6.1 Conservation Designated Sites Located Within the Study Area Table 7.6.2 Species of Conservation Interest in Wexford Harbour and Slobs SPA Table 7.6.3 Conservation Designated Sites Located within 10 km of the Study Area Table 7.6.4 Protected Flora within 10 km Grids Table 7.7.1 Trees and Hedgerows Table 7.9.1 Geological Formations or Members within Study Area Table 7.9.2 Vulnerability Categories Table 7.9.3 Townlands/ Areas with Groundwater of Extreme Vulnerability Table 7.9.4 Geological Heritage Sites 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page xi N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report Table 7.10.1 Lakes within Study Area Table 7.10.2 Classification of River Channels Table 7.10.3 Q – Rating System and Water Quality Table 7.10.4 Shellfish Production and Classification Table 7.10.5 Flood Events within study area List of Plates – Contained in Part A Plate 3.1 Oilgate Village Plate 3.2 River Slaney Plate 3.3 Ferrycarrig Bridge Plate 3.4 Rosslare Europort Plate 3.5 Ferrycarrig Castle 247517/06/B - August 2009 Part A – Page xii N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme Mott MacDonald Ireland Constraints Study Report 1 Introduction Mott MacDonald Ireland, on behalf of Wexford County Council have been appointed to provide engineering consultancy services to develop proposals for the N11/N25 Oilgate to Rosslare Harbour Road Improvement Scheme.