12. Recommendations for Further Development 12.1 Rationale for Route Corridor Option Removal 12.2 Recommendation
12. Recommendations for Further Development
12.1 Rationale for Route Corridor Option Removal
12.1.1 North Corridor Option 3
North Corridor Option 3 does not provide any benefits over North Corridor Option 1 or North Corridor Option 2. It is the least effective in meeting the scheme objectives and of the options available provides the least amount of junction functionality, limiting local access connectivity. In addition, of the northern route corridor options available, this corridor is expected to generate a deterioration of local air quality to the highest number of properties.
12.1.2 South Corridor Option 3
Whilst the South Corridor Option 3 mainline can be implemented fully in association with the proposed replacement bridge, the junction arrangement required to the M9 and M9 Spur is complex, requiring multiple structures to implement. The proximity of existing roads’ infrastructure and the Falkirk-Fife Railway Line to the proposed junction location makes the provision of connections to all routes extremely difficult, with a substantial number of Departures from Standard likely to be required.
The provision of South Corridor Option 3 would also be likely to require the greatest number of residential property demolitions when compared to the other southern route corridor options available.
12.1.3 South Corridor Option 4A
Whilst South Corridor Option 4A is capable of providing direct access to the A90 and the M9, the land take associated with the implementation of such a scheme is far higher than that of South Corridor Option 1 or South Corridor Option 2 in isolation. This corridor is also expected to have the greatest ecological, visual and landscape impacts of the southern route corridor options and would require a high number of water crossings.
Further to this, the anticipated cost associated with the implementation of this option is far greater than that associated with South Corridor Option 1 or South Corridor Option 2 in isolation.
12.2 Recommendation
Having discarded the above corridor options as above, the following northern and southern route corridor options were recommended for DMRB Stage 2 Corridor Assessment:
Northern Route Corridor Options |
Southern Route Corridor Options |
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