Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Proposed
Arup Consulting Engineers
The proposed grade separated intersection will be viewed as a raised platform with access
ramps aligned along the axis road in an east – west direction. The ramps will be elevated to a
maximum height of 9 metres over grade. The completed overpass structure will consist of a
road carriageway on pre-cast concrete beams supported on concrete columns.
The following visual elements will form part of the completed overpass:
• Selected facing panels to the side walls of the elevated roadway
• Galvanised steel crash barriers 1.25 metres high to the sides of the proposed overpass.
• The median will consist of an in-situ concrete barrier approximately one metre in height,
typical of motorway construction.
• Lighting columns (not designed to date) will be located along the edge of the roadway.
• A 1.5 metre high noise barrier located along a portion of the northern carriageway at the
rear of the houses backing on to the N7 road corridor. As mentioned previously, the final
design may alter from the worst case scenario considered in this report, for example the
noise barriers have been assessed as solid barriers however, they may be transparent
which will offer a less significant visual impact.
• Typical motorway / NRA road signage at the required locations along the road corridor.
The development will be seen as a natural improvement to the road system and will be
compatible with other major intersections along the N7. Due to the localised nature of the
development the only housing group to be affected by a moderate and negative visual impact
will be the row of two storey houses located to the north east, backing onto the N7 road
corridor. There will also be a visual impact on a small area of the Newlands Golf Course to
the south.
The visual impact of the relocated gas AGI building will be slight and neutral given the
existing gas works building will be removed and that the proposed structure will be similar in
size, with a similar finish on its facades.
In addition the improvement of traffic flow through the junction will greatly reduce the visual
and environmental impact caused by excessive slow moving traffic at the junction.
The visual impact will be extremely localised given the scale and extent of the road corridor.
The visual impact will be moderate and neutral.
7.4.3.3 Impact on Views
Views
Eight key views were taken to illustrate the visual impact of the proposed development on the
landscape (See Figures 7.8 – 7.23 inclusive). The locations where the views were taken are
depicted on the Camera Location Map (See Figure 7.7). Views from the public domain were
given precedence over views form private dwellings and are as follows:
View 1: View from the open space immediately to the north east of the junction
Existing:
This is a short distance view towards the proposed overpass. The build up of traffic at the
junction is visible in the middle distance, behind the existing tree planting on the open space.
The upper levels of Bewleys Hotel are visible to the right of the view. Views out towards
December 2007 Page 111