Project Evaluation - Environment

The following section provides a summary of the assessment of environmental mitigation measures proposed for the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements Project. The full report is provided in Appendix A.

Relevant TPOs

M8 Baillieston to Newhouse

To protect the built and natural environment, especially the environment of people, in particular;
- to reduce the adverse impact of transport on people, and this includes the protection of existing populations in all communities from the intrusive effects of traffic.

A725 Raith Junction

Minimise impact on environment

M8 / M73 / M74 Associated Network Improvements

Minimise impacts on the environment

Review of Environmental Mitigation Measures

The environmental mitigation measures originally proposed for the project were obtained from the following Environmental Statements (hereafter referred to as the ES):

M8 Baillieston to Newhouse
M74 Junction 5, Raith
M8 / M73 / M74 Associated Network Improvements

A desk-based review of the environmental mitigation measures proposed for the project was carried out in November 2019. Following this review, site visits were undertaken in late November 2019 to establish whether or not the proposed mitigation measures, as set out within the Schedule of Committed Mitigation within the ES, had been implemented and to gauge the success, or otherwise, of the measures provided.

The as-built drawings for the project were not available at the time of the site visits undertaken to inform the 1YA Evaluation. These were obtained following completion of the site visits. As a result, several ecological mitigation items were not inspected during the site visits, as these were not included in the ES mitigation drawings. Additionally, the as-built drawings provided did not contain information on landscape planting. It is therefore assumed that planting was carried out in-line with the ES Conceptual Mitigation Strategy drawings.

The ES for the project proposed mitigation measures to address impacts under the following criteria:

Landscape and Visual Amenity
Noise and Vibration
Ecology and Conservation
Road Drainage and Water Environment
Pedestrians, Cyclists, Equestrian and Community Effects

Findings

In general, the mitigation which was included within the ES has been implemented on site. Some aspects of the mitigation require attention or investigation, however, and further action may be required. Details are provided within the following sub-sections.

Landscape and Visual

Views from the road are generally good and the Landscape / Planting Strategy appears to have been implemented in-line with the ES drawings throughout each project. Planting has generally established well throughout, with some good examples of wetland creation incorporated into Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) through planting marginal vegetation (see the Road Drainage and Water Environment section).

It is considered that overall planting has been successful, however, some areas were noted during the site visit which may require further investigation. This includes an area of tree planting, including several trees and associated tree guards which have been knocked or blown over. Patches of bare ground and discoloured vegetation, within areas of grassland habitat, were also noted in various locations.

It is recommended that areas where habitat has not established well, as detailed in Appendix A, should be replanted or re-seeded. Habitats throughout the project should be monitored to ensure commitments to habitat compensation or woodland planting are maintained.

Noise and Vibration

Noise barriers were recommended at several locations. Barriers were to be of at least 15 kg/m2 closed boarded timber fencing, ranging between 2 metres and 3 metres in height. Noise barriers are present at all locations shown in the as-built drawings and, at the time of the site visits undertaken to inform the 1YA Evaluation, all appear to be in good condition.

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