Environmental Impact Study

Brady, Shipman, Martin assessed the landscape and visual elements of the route. The character of the route corridor is of lowland rural/urban fringe. The urban area to the south of the River Shannon is dominated by residential, commercial and industrial development divided by large areas of open space. To the west and north of the River Shannon the suburban landscape is slightly distanced and particularly in Coonagh, the area has a rural context for its immediate setting. The expansive Shannon Estuary with associated reed beds is the most notable natural feature in the landscape. The rural agricultural landscape has relatively small to medium field sizes where the primary land-use is as pasture for livestock and dairying.

With the exception of Coonagh, the completed road will have only a slight impact on the landscape character of the area. Coonagh is particularly rural and agricultural in character and as such, the impact on the landscape character will be substantial during the operational phase of the development when the road, associated illumination and the toll plazas will permanently alter the existing character of the area.

A total of 112 locations were identified as having some degree of visual impact including two properties that will be fully acquired or demolished. Excluding the two properties to be fully acquired/demolished, in the pre-establishment stage (short-term) 11 locations will experience a severe impact and a further 12 will experience a major impact as a result of the proposed development. In the post-establishment stage and again excluding the two properties to be fully acquired/demolished, six locations will continue to have major negative visual impact.

A schedule of general landscape mitigation measures has been proposed for the scheme and, in addition, a series of specific landscape measures are proposed in relation to areas where specific impact was identified. Given the urban/rural context of the development, it is not considered that any property will experience a medium to long-term severe negative impact if the mitigation measures, as specified in the EIS, are implemented.