Newlands Cross Upgrade EIS - European Investment Bank

South Dublin County Council N7 Newlands Cross Upgrade
Environmental Impact Statement
Arup Consulting Engineers
Archaeological Heritage
Two recorded archaeological sites (sites of) will potentially be directly impacted by the
proposed upgrade (DU021-014, Gateway & Date Stone and DU021-016, Road). There are no
visible upstanding remains associated with these RMP sites, as the current road network and
Newlands Cross have previously truncated these sites. Landscaping associated with the
present Newlands Cross Golf Club has also obscured any surface traces of the old road
(DU021-016) and its exact location, where it runs through the former Newlands Demesne.
Given the presence of these two recorded archaeological sites (sites of) and the potential for
discovery of previously unknown sites or features in the area of the proposed upgrade works,
it is proposed that all greenfield areas are subjected to blanket linear test excavation.
Monitoring of all earth-moving works by a licensed archaeologist will take place, where safe
and practical, at the preconstruction, site preparation and construction stage where blanket
archaeological test excavation will not be achievable along the existing N7 road and Newlands
Cross. This will occur so all archaeological material is recognised and appropriately recorded,
within the zone of archaeological potential that surrounds the two recorded, now levelled,
archaeological sites. All due regard will be given to health and safety during this process,
which may override the requirement for monitoring.
All archaeological works will be carried out with reference to the NRA guidelines under
licence to the National Monuments Section and the National Museum of Ireland or subject to
Ministerial directions. The exact strategy to be employed will be agreed with the NRA
Archaeologist and the National Monuments Section of the Department of Environment,
Heritage and Local Government.
NTS13. COMMUNITY AND MATERIAL ASSETS
The upgrade proposed for Newlands Cross will have a net positive overall impact on the local
community. Community impacts are assessed from four perspectives, namely:
1. Journey characteristics
2. Severance
3. Journey amenity and general amenity
4. Economic
In terms of journey characteristics, the proposed interchange will improve capacity of the N7
Naas Road traffic considerably in combination with ongoing improvements to the Red Cow
Interchange and the M50. Local journeys - by pedestrians, cyclists or vehicles - across the
interchange, involving Fonthill Road South or Belgard Road (R113), will also be shorter than
before. Journey time reliability will be improved similarly.
Severance involves the separation of people from community facilities. In the case of this
scheme, severance is distinct from journey time and journey amenity in that there are no
community facilities in the immediate vicinity south of the Naas Road, aside from the golf
course which is typically accessed by car. The main existing severance element applies to a
small number of householders on Belgard Road who may wish to access community facilities
in Clondalkin. In this case, the impact of the interchange will be positive.
Journey amenity, i.e. the relative pleasantness of journeys, will be significantly improved by
the interchange due to reduced delays and the greater separation of traffic and pedestrians.
Cycle journeys will also be more agreeable and safer. The construction of the scheme will
have an adverse impact on the amenity of the golf course in terms of the impact on the hole 6
and 7 and the loss the existing tree screening. With the proposed mitigations in place the
December 2007 Page NTS10