chapter 15. traffic and transportation · traffic surveys were undertaken by faber maunsell as part...

Environmental Impact Statement 15 - 1 Lagan Cement Ltd, Killaskillen, Co. Meath

15.0 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION 15.1 INTRODUCTION

This section of the EIS has been prepared by Tom Phillips + Associates and follows on from the Traffic and Transportation sections prepared in respect of previous developments at the Lagan Cement site.

15.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS 15.2.1 Existing Road Network

The site access to the Cement Works is located on a County Road, north of Killaskillen Crossroads. An access road constructed by Lagan Cement Ltd in 2002 – 03, forms a link between this County Road and the N6 (Galway Road), approximately 1.5km west of Kinnegad. The width of this new access road, and the upgraded sections of the existing County Road on the approach to the site, is on average 7.5m wide. The access road has a roundabout junction with the N6 at its northern end and a priority T-junction at its southern end with the County Road. Apart from the access road constructed by Lagan Cement Ltd, there is significant new road infrastructure which has recently been completed in the vicinity of the site (see Appendix 15.1). The new M4/M6 Kilcock to Kinnegad Motorway was the first public, private partnership (PPP) motorway project to be undertaken in Ireland. The project involved the construction of 39km of dual carriageway and 2 x 2-lane motorway from Kilcock to Kinnegad, and is an extension of the Kilcock-Maynooth-Leixlip motorway section of the N4/N6 Sligo/Galway to Dublin route; the new road bypasses the towns of Enfield, Moyvalley, Clonard and Kinnegad. The motorway is operated as a toll road, and was opened in December 2006 (ten months ahead of schedule) and it is estimated that the new road will take 20 minutes off a journey between Dublin and Galway, Mayo or Sligo. The road currently carries an average of 20,000 cars per day, as well as 1,000 HGVs.1 Access to the M4 in the locality of the site is via on and off slips onto the County Road which the development accesses onto, to the south of Kinnegad and also from the new access road constructed by Lagan Cement Ltd. The N4 (connecting Dublin to Sligo) approaches Kinnegad from the east, bypasses Kinnegad town, using the new bypass and continues towards Mullingar. The realigned section of the N4 north-west of Kinnegad has been upgraded to motorway standard (M4) and is either accessed from the M4 or from a new roundabout on the N6 (connecting Dublin to Galway). The N6 road is a National Primary Route in the Republic of Ireland, connecting Dublin to Galway (by connecting from the M4 motorway at Kinnegad) across the midlands of Ireland. Historically, the N6 connected to the N4 in Kinnegad town centre. However, a new road link allows traffic to bypasses the town

1 Faber Maunsell (2008), Traffic Impact Assessment (Meath County Council Planning Reg. Ref. No. TA800654), p. 12.2.

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centre and the realigned N6 route starts at Junction 11 on the M4 at Kinnegad and runs west into County Westmeath.

15.2.2 Traffic Surveys

Traffic surveys were undertaken by Faber Maunsell as part of the previous planning applications on the Lagan Cement site (Meath County Council Planning Reg. Ref. Nos. TA/60580, TA/60581 and TA/800654). In this regard, traffic surveys were carried out on Tuesday, 18th April 2006 and Thursday, 4th May 2006. Classified turning count traffic surveys were undertaken at the following locations: • Existing site access on County Road; • Lagan access road / new N6 Roundabout; • Lagan access road / County Road priority T-junction; and • Lagan access road / M4 off slip priority T-junction;

All traffic counts were undertaken during the 07:00 – 10:00 and 16:00 – 19:00 time periods, as it was considered that during these periods the culmination of development traffic and background traffic flows would be at their highest. Details of the traffic surveys are attached as Appendix 15.3.

15.2.3 Committed Developments

Since the base traffic survey data was collected in 2006, planning permission was granted to Lagan Cement Ltd to increase its production of cement from 600,000 tonnes to 700,000 tonnes per annum (Planning Reg. Ref. No. TA/60580). Permission was also granted for the development comprising a dry mortar plant, paver plant and roof tile plant (Planning Reg. Ref. No. TA/60581), and an increase in the quantum and range of alternative fuels used in the cement production process (Planning Reg. Ref. No. TA/800654). The permissions for the concrete products production area and the increased use of alternative fuels have not yet commenced. Nonetheless, the HGV traffic associated with each of the committed developments is outlined in Table 15.1 to 15.5, with the overall increase in traffic associated with the committed developments indicated in Table 15.6 below. Table 15.1: Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Permitted Increase in Cement Production

Time Period Arrivals Departures Total AM Peak Hour 1 1 2 PM Peak Hour 1 1 2 07:00 – 19:00 14 14 28

Source: Faber Maunsell (November, 2006)

Table 15.2: Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Permitted Dry Mortar Plant Time Period Arrivals Departures Total

AM Peak Hour 1 1 2 PM Peak Hour 1 1 2

07:00-19:00 10 10 20 Source: Faber Maunsell (November, 2006)

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Table 15.3: Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Permitted Paver Plant Time Period Arrivals Departures Total



Table 15.4: Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Permitted Roof Tile Plant Time Period Arrivals Departures Total



Table 15.5: Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Permitted Increase in Alternative Fuels

Time Period Arrivals Departures Total AM Peak Hour 2 2 4 PM Peak Hour 2 2 4


Table 15.5: Total Increase in HGV Traffic Generated by Committed Developments

Time Period Arrivals Departures Total AM Peak Hour 6 6 12 PM Peak Hour 6 6 12

07:00-19:00 50 50 100 Source: Compiled by Tom Phillips + Associates (February 2009) 15.3 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AND TRAFFIC GENERATION

The proposed development comprises an extension to the existing permitted limestone quarry over lands contained within the townlands of Killaskillen and Tore, Co. Meath. The proposed quarry extension is to a depth of 1 no. bench (70 metres AOD) and will increase the surface area of the quarry from the permitted 24.8 hectares to 77.25 hectares in total. In this regard, the proposed development comprises an increase in the extraction area by 52.45 hectares. The extension will allow for the continued extraction and movement of operations across a single production bench. There will be no change to the extraction rate or processing capacity of the cement plant. As such, there will not be an intensification of operations on the site, thereby meaning that there will be no increase in traffic accessing or exiting the site.

15.4 PARKING PROVISION AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES 15.4.1 Parking

The proposed development requires no further staff on the site, therefore meaning that no additional parking is required.

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12.4.2 Public Transport Facilities

As outlined above, the proposed development requires no further staff to be on site. Thus, public transport facilities are not considered necessary.

15.5 MITIGATION MEASURES

The proposed development will not give rise to an increase in vehicular traffic over what is already established and permitted. Therefore, further mitigation measures are not required.

15.6 SUMMARY

In summary, the proposed development will not give rise to an increase in vehicular traffic accessing or exiting the site. Traffic generation will not be increased above what is already established and permitted by means of extant planning permissions. It is therefore considered that additional mitigation measures are not necessary.

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Appendix 15.1

Figure 15.1: Subject Site and Surrounding Road Network

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Environmental Impact Statement Lagan Cement Ltd, Killaskillen, Co. Meath

Figure 15.1: Subject Site and Surrounding Road Network

Source: Ordnance Survey Discovery Series; annotated by Tom Phillips + Associates (Reproduced under OS Licence No. AR 0008609).

Site Access

KEY Landholding in the Ownership of Lagan Cement Ltd New M4 Motorway

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Appendix 15.2

Figure 15.2: Map of Subject Site and Haulage Routes

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Environmental Impact Statement Lagan Cement Ltd, Killaskillen, Co. Meath

Figure 15.2: Map of Subject Site and Haulage Routes

Source: Ordnance Survey Discovery Series; annotated by Tom Phillips + Associates (Reproduced under OS Licence No. AR 0008609).

KEY Landholding in the Ownership of Lagan Cement Ltd Haulage Routes

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Appendix 15.3

Copy of Traffic Counts undertaken by Faber Maunsell

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chapter 15. traffic and transportation · traffic surveys were undertaken by faber maunsell as part...

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