Environmental Construction Guidelines

The Authority has published the following guidance documents to provide a step by step approach to minimising impacts on badgers, bats, watercourse crossings and wetland archaeology prior and during the construction phase of national road schemes. (Please click on the document title below to access it in PDF)

• The Management of Waste from National Road Construction Projects.  A key purpose of this document is to help all parties understand the complicated legal framework which governs the management of waste generated by national road projects. In addition to this, it sets out good practice guidelines to ensure that effective waste management remains a priority throughout the construction stage of these types of developments. The purpose here is to encourage the minimisation of the environmental impacts of roads-related construction waste, as well as the volume of the actual waste being generated and to facilitate compliance with the provisions of the Waste Management Acts (1996-2008). Finally, these guidelines also have the objective of providing information to facilitate an effective dialogue between road contractors, relevant statutory bodies and third parties on how waste should be properly handled in a road-building context.
   
• The guidance document Guidelines for the Treatment of Otters prior to the Construction of National Road Schemes sets outs procedures for the protection of otters during the construction of national road schemes. It details procedures for the exclusion of otters from holts and it contains a new specification for mammal fencing.
   
• The badger guidance document Guidelines for the Treatment of Badgers prior to the Construction of a National Road Scheme addresses surveying techniques, badger exclusion methodologies and design specifications for badger resistant fencing and mammal underpasses.Please note the revised specification for badger resistant fencing in Figure 2.
  
• The document on bats Guidelines for the Treatment of Bats during the Construction of National Road Schemes describes surveying techniques prior to tree felling and headgerow removal and building demolition as well as exclusion methodologies.
   
• The watercourse crossing document Guidelines for the Crossing of Watercourses during the Construction of National Road Schemes outlines measures relating to the conservation of fish, riparian and aquatic habitats and includes general proposals to cater for the passage of mammals under bridges and culverts on roadways.
   
• The guideline document on wetland archaeology Guidelines for the Testing and Mitigation of the Wetland Archaeological Heritage for National Road Schemes will assist all those involved in the archaeological testing, field survey, excavation and post-excavation phases of archaeological mitigation in wetlands on national road schemes. The Guidelines are intended to promote best practice working in wetland environments and when recording archaeological remains, in particular organic material, preserved in a variety of wetland contexts. For the purposes of these guidelines the definition of a wetland includes peatlands, rivers, lakes (current and former), estuaries, seasonally flooded areas (such as callows) and coastal areas. The document outlines a range of general recommendations that need to be considered in approaching archaeological work in wetland environments; practical approaches relevant to both assessment and excavation, and a select bibliography offering comparative methodologies to projects in wetland environments.
   
• The document Guidelines for the Protection and Preservation of Trees, Hedgerows and Scrub Prior to, During and Post Construction of National Road Schemes outlines important relevant legislation as well as the biological requirements of trees. Approaches to pre construction work are addressed and it outlines detailed methods for the protection of trees during the construction phase.