10_Volume-2-Part 12 - Hyder Consulting

4 Assessment of Effects
4.1 Construction Effects
4.1.0.1 Construction of the Scheme would primarily affect pedestrians and others
using the footpaths and road network near to the works. However, during
periods of traffic management, traffic may be diverted and cause temporary
impacts to pedestrians and others using the road network further from the
Scheme. Potential impacts on pedestrians and others would therefore have
to be managed on a flexible basis during the construction period.
4.1.0.2 During construction, access along the footpaths/cycleways within the
vicinity of the Scheme would be maintained wherever possible. However,
NMU may still be affected by construction activities, such as traffic
management, operating construction vehicles, or the construction work
itself. These impacts may include delays (e.g. waiting for construction
vehicles to pass, longer routes), adverse conditions (i.e. possible mud on
the footpath due to construction works) and potential increased sources of
alarm to ridden horses (e.g. noise from construction vehicles).
4.1.0.3 The sources of visual impacts on NMU during the construction period would
result from the removal of existing vegetation and presence of earthworks,
temporary lighting, signage, construction plant and machinery. There would
be adverse visual impacts from footpaths directly affected by construction
processes, and several footpaths in close proximity to the works would also
suffer adverse visual impacts. NMU in the vicinity of structural works, in
particular improvements at Tollbar End roundabout are likely to experience
significant adverse visual effects associated with direct views to large
machinery such as piling augers and other ancillary equipment.
4.1.0.4 Footpath 443 currently links Rowley Road to the A45 Stonebridge Highway.
During construction works, the footpath would be blocked for safety
reasons, and would be permanently closed thereafter. Due to its current
low usage, the consequential impact would be assessed as slight
adverse, though it could be considered to be mitigated by a slightly longer
walk around the land in question.
4.1.0.5 The works to the Tollbar End roundabout would result in the modification of
the pedestrian crossings and footpaths, cycleways and tracks in the area.
Access across the roundabout would be maintained throughout the
construction period and signage would be provided for NMU. These
alternative accesses and crossings may result in slightly longer journey
times. The resulting impact would be temporary slight adverse.
4.1.0.6 A new footbridge over the River Sowe on the south side of the A45
Stonebridge Highway, immediately east of Stivichall Junction, would be
needed to allow the widening of the carriageway and re-routing of the
existing combined footway and cycleway to avoid modifying the existing
bridge. The separate footbridge specifically for the 3m wide combined
cycleway / footway would be provided adjacent to and south of the existing
River Sowe Bridge.
Environmental Statement Volume 2
A45/A46 Tollbar End Improvement
Page 22
Part 12: Pedestrians et al
March 2009