Environment

The new M74 motorway will improve air quality and act as a catalyst for the clean-up of contaminated land.

Example of Drainage Pond

To meet the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations, an Environmental Impact Assessment was undertaken. This identified and assessed both the positive and negative impacts of the project on the environment and proposed suitable mitigation measures to minimise any negative impact. The key findings of this assessment have been published in the project environmnental statement.

Air quality
There will be an overall improvement in air quality for most residents in a wider area due to reduced levels of traffic on local roads following the opening of the motorway. The M74 completion will also result in air quality improvements in the Glasgow city centre Air Quality Management Area.

Noise
Research and modelling indicates that more properties are expected to experience a decrease in road noise levels than will experience an increase. Further measures such as the use of low noise road surfacing and noise barriers will be used to reduce the impacts of traffic noise.

Contaminated land
The scheme traverses areas of former heavy industry and soils are contaminated with chromium, heavy metals and hydrocarbons. The scheme will have a positive benefit in cleaning up these soils and groundwater along the route and act as a catalyst for further development which will achieve the same goal.

Water quality
Overall the scheme will have beneficial effects for the water environment. Along the route there are areas of old mine workings and contaminated land, the run-off from which will be improved. The contractor will be required to comply with strict criteria to manage materials, and overall this will involve ‘capping off’ areas of contamination and stabilising former mining areas.

Visual impact
There will be significant longer term benefits in many areas where new planting will replace existing views of derelict land or industrial estates.

Habitats
New habitats will be created as part of the landscape planting for the scheme. Existing habitats will be enhanced with new planting. These new and improved habitats will enhance local biodiversity in the longer term.

Archaeology
The M74 provides a unique and exciting opportunity to unearth some of the history of Glasgow and its surrounding areas and is an added benefit to the many that the M74 will bring to the West of Scotland. See news release of 17 August 2007.