An extensive landscaping scheme is proposed for the £104 million Waterford bypass to ease its visual impact on more than 235 properties along the 26 km route, an oral hearing was told yesterday.
That is according to landscape architect Raymond Holbeach, operational director of RPS Environmental Sciences Ltd, the consultancy which prepared the landscaping and visual impact assessments detailed in the environmental impact statement.
His evidence to the fourth day of the oral hearing at Dooley's Hotel in Waterford revealed the road would have a visual impact on 237 properties in Waterford and south Kilkenny. Of these, 48 would undergo a "substantial" visual impact, with 13 of them in the Kilmeaden area and 19 along the northern route section.
Mr Holbeach said there would be substantial visual impacts at Dooneen, Bawnfune and Killotteran south of the River Suir, and on properties at Granagh in south Kilkenny and on the fringes of Killaspy and Kilmurry in Ferrybank.
He said elements of the proposed road likely to cause visual impacts included the traffic and structures such as signs and lights. Embankments, bridges and viaducts were likely to cause the greatest visual intrusion, he added.
Mr Holbeach pointed out that a comprehensive landscape planting scheme was proposed to mitigate the landscape and visual impacts.
"The aim of the mitigation is to integrate the proposed road into the existing landscape character and reduce visual impact for residential properties," he told the hearing.
He said a variety of plant mixes will be used along the route corridor to provide screening and integration of the route.
"The sizes and the species of plants will be varied to provide the creation of instant effects at key locations along the route corridor where necessary to reduce significant visual intrusion. This will take the form of large mature shrubs, hedges and trees.
"Where appropriate, earth bunds (embankments) will be used in association with mature planting to reduce visual intrusion. This approach is proposed at Dooneen where a five-metre earth bund with mature shrubs and trees is proposed."