The scheme involved the improvement of the A5117 from Junction 16 of the M56 in Cheshire to the Deeside Park Interchange at the A550 / A548 in Flintshire. The route forms part of the Trans European Network, which connects Ireland with Scandinavia, and provides a strategic link between the A55 from North Wales and the M56 into the North-West of England.Principal requirements of the scheme were: to provide an on-line dual carriageway with grade separated junctions; improvement of the three main junctions at Woodbank (A550), Parkgate Road (A540) and Dunkirk (M56), and to close all direct access to properties from the on-line dual carriageway.In addition, the Secretary of State’s objectives for the scheme were to minimise the impact on people and property, the landscape character of the area and sensitive ecological areas.Moore Environment was employed as Environmental Co-ordinator and Landscape Architect, responsible for briefing and managing a multi-disciplinary team through the EIA and planning process, construction and aftercare. Moore Environment was also responsible for development of the detailed design for ecological, archaeological and landscape measures including the design of sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) with input from the project hydrological engineers.Extensive environmental measures were included in the design to achieve these objectives and provide the credentials of high sustainability including:-

• SuDS: design and incorporation of 11 hybrid wetlands to provide drainage attenuation and treat runoff whilst enhancing biodiversity
• Drainage mitigation for Great Crested Newts (GCN): the design of kerb-less drainage where possible, with mitigation designed into the kerb and drainage system where required to minimise the risk to GCN
• Wildlife wetland habitats: 14 ponds designed in mitigation for protected species including GCN and lesser silver water beetle, whilst providing foraging for many other invertebrate, bird and mammal species
• Noise mitigation: earth mounding in select locations along the periphery of the scheme to reduce the impact of noise and vibration, with back slopes designed to shallow gradients and returned to agricultural use
• Woodland and hedgerow planting: over 6.5km of species rich hedgerow and 7ha of native woodland planting, all of local provenance to the scheme, for habitat enhancement and landscape integration
• Wildflower meadow: the creation of 11ha of species rich grassland on low nutrient substrate, provided both as habitat enhancement and to reduce long term maintenance requirements
• Wet woodland: translocation of soils containing ground flora from ancient wet woodland
• Surplus materials: sympathetic incorporation of 130,000 cubic metres of surplus soils and materials into the landscape, to reduce the visual impact of the scheme on the surrounding landscape and to reduce the number of vehicular movements required to transport material off-site.

In addition, the amenity value of the scheme was enhanced through:

• Semi-ornamental planting: incorporated around the main junctions whilst retaining the overall character of native planting to the scheme
• Subtle definitions in planting: as road users pass through the scheme to assist in driver orientation
• Gateway features: created adjacent to the carriageways, close to the England / Wales border.