COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, May 12, 2008

QUESTION NO. 7

QUESTION: Councillor G. O'Connell

To ask the Manager for a report on the M50 upgrade, specifically:

1. The results of all noise monitoring from the start of the work to end of March 2008.

2. If the solid barrier on the median was factored in at the design phase, given that the EU Regulation only came in about the same time, and if the Manager can verify that this low barrier does not deflect noise across the other carriageway over the boundary barrier and onto receptors i.e. homes.

3. Why are wooden barriers now used so extensively along the M50 when the City Council recently banned wood as a form of cladding and is the Manager aware that the fire brigade had to be called twice recently to deal with fires close to the wooden barriers?

4. Who is responsible for removing graffiti from the barriers along the M50 and why has the graffiti been allowed to remain so long on this new surface?

REPLY:

1.The results of all noise monitoring carried out is available on request from the Project Resident Engineer at the Liffey Valley site office. Given the volume of information available along the entire scheme advance notice for particular areas is required.   

2. The Council's Consulting Engineers have indicated that the median noise barrier has no effect on noise transmission to residences and deflection off or reflection from the barriers is of little significance and is not such as to effect the EIS limits . There is no noise regulation relating to traffic noise in force at this time. The noise assessment was carried out on the basis of the NRA guidlines extant at the time and the noise barrier provided on the carriageway edge meets the required noise reduction levels.

3. Wooden barrier are acceptable as a noise barrier provided that they meet the noise reduction criteria required as part of the EIS assessment. There is no ban on this type of noise barrier in South Dublin County and the Bord Pleanala inspector encouraged the use of timber barriers as they integrated better with the general landscape.

4. The graffiti removal is a maintenance issue which is currently the responsiblity of this Council and will be addressed as soon as practicable by the contractor. This responsibility will transfer to the PPP consortium as soon as the final snagging is complete which is estimated in approximately 3 months time.