€40m Shannon bridge gets the all clear

Householders in Killaloe and Ballina, who are subject to preliminary compulsory purchase order notices, are considering their options after An Bord Pleanála ruled the development of the proposed €40m Shannon Bridge Crossing and associated link roads is not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment.

Tipperary agricultural consultant, Richard Rea, has warned that home-owners affected by the approved CPO may not get paid until 2016, even if the development isn’t subjected to a Judicial Review.

While Mr Rea, of Martin and Rea Agricultural Consultants, respected the decision of the board, he admitted his clients, who he hadn’t consulted yet, may not agree with it.

He said his team had expressed concern during the oral hearing last October about the impact of such a major infrastructural development in a residential area, particularly on houses adjoining the road, which would effectively become “unsaleable”.

He added it would be very difficult to determine the real market value of houses affected by the CPO in the current economic climate.

It is understood that local objectors have about 60 days, until the end of May, to request a Judicial Review. If no such review is granted, Clare County Council will have about 18 months to issue CPO notices to affected properties.

There has been a mixed reaction to the board’s decision to grant planning permission for the €11.9m Killaloe bypass, the €12m Shannon Bridge Crossing and upgrading works costing €16.6m on the existing regional road linking Ballina and Birdhill, subject to 11 conditions.

Welcoming the decision as a major improvement in connectivity between East Clare and the national motorway network, Clare County Council indicated the next stage of the process will be to appoint consultants to deal with further detailed design requirements, the tendering of the scheme and all subsequent stages through to the final construction.

The council will also be pursuing acquisition of the lands to which the CPO applies in due course.

Having regard to the nature, scale, design and location of the proposed development, the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the inspector’s assessment of environmental impacts, the board concluded it would not be likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment.

It also found the project would not adversely affect the integrity of the Lower River Shannon candidate Special Area of Conservation.

“Subject to compliance with the 11 conditions, the development would not have significant negative effects on the farming and business community in the vicinity, would not have a significant negative long term impact on ecologically important sites along the route or on flora and fauna which are identified for protection, and would not give rise to a risk of pollution.

“It would not have a detrimental impact on archaeological heritage, would be acceptable in terms of its impact on architectural heritage, on the character and setting of protected structures, the amenities of the area of residential property in the vicinity and would be acceptable in terms of resulting visual and landscape impacts,” the board ruled.

Tom Tiernan, senior engineer and project manager, outlined this project will deliver improved connectivity between the wider East Clare area and the national motorway network.

“It will erase the traffic bottleneck that has developed in Killaloe/Ballina over the years, as well as eliminate the present dependency on the existing substandard Shannon River crossing at Killaloe, in terms of its lack of capacity to handle current traffic demands. The project will facilitate the Killaloe/Ballina, East Clare and North Tipperary areas in its endeavours to develop further, both commercially and from an industrial point of view.

“The scheme will also ensure that the region, including Lough Derg, becomes much more accessible and marketable as a tourism destination. Furthermore, the reduction in traffic volumes through Killaloe/Ballina will improve residential amenity in the community,” he said.

Councillor Cathal Crowe predicted the entire project would help Killaloe and Ballina to attract more visitors into the area once it is constructed.

“Killaloe and Ballina has been choked with traffic for years. The existing bridge is not able to take the volume of traffic and the new crossing will give the area a new lease of life,” he said.

Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald said this project would have huge benefits for Clare and the entire region.

The lack of adequate space for pedestrians crossing the existing bridge on a daily basis linking Killaloe and Ballina has been described as the “elephant in the room” in relation to the provision of a new river crossing and bypass.

Mayor of Clare Pat Daly predicted one of the biggest infrastructure projects to be undertaken in the region during the next decade would bring economic and social benefits to people who live, work in and visit the area.

Bill Morrissey, chartered civil engineer and commercial manager, who appeared on behalf of objectors, admitted he was surprised with the decision considering all the “shortcomings” in the application, which were outlined during the oral hearing.

Mr Morrissey claimed the board hadn’t done anything to resolve the serious safety issue on the existing bridge for pedestrians, particularly women with a buggy and other children who have to cross the old bridge.

He claimed the whole process was “flawed” as it seemed the board had “rubber stamped” the development without addressing the impact on residents affected by the CPO.