A green-field route was chosen for the proposed Limerick-Nenagh motorway because too many houses would have to be demolished if planners opted for widening of the existing N7, a Bord Pleanála oral hearing in Limerick heard yesterday.
Widening the existing national primary road along the 38km stretch between the town and city would have resulted in a considerable amount of demolition of properties, Mr James Macken SC told the hearing.
Far more properties would have had to be demolished than will be the case on the proposed new route.
Upgrading the existing N7 would also result in the creation of an unacceptable amount of access routes along that particular road.
Mr Macken, representing Limerick and North Tipperary County Councils, was making his opening statement on the first day of a hearing that is expected to last at least until Friday.
He said draft traffic guidelines recently issued by the National Roads Authority in relation to noise levels came at a very late stage in the design of the proposed new route, which was initiated five years ago.
The planners had been studying the guidelines and were seeking to achieve a specific noise standard, and they were happy that this could be achieved if the planning board deemed it necessary.
The hearing, presided over by a Bord Pleanála inspector, Mr Michael Ward, will listen to concerns raised by approximately 150 objectors to compulsory purchase orders issued against their properties.
In all, 800 acres of land have to be acquired for the building of the motorway.
Some 17 houses are due for demolition once works start in 2006.
Mr Edward Nagle, a farm consultant representing 42 landowners whose properties will be affected if the route goes ahead, said there was a possibility that some of his clients' concerns could be resolved in the coming days following talks over the past week with representatives of Limerick County Council.
"But there are issues particularly with intensive dairy farmers that will not be sorted out," Mr Nagle added.
These people were "serious objectors" to the proposals to split their farms.
"What we will be honing in on are the effects this new route will have on agriculture and noise impact on these particular properties.
"We are concerned about farmers who will have difficulty accessing their farms."
The construction of the route is costed at €261 million, based on 2002 prices, and it is scheduled for completion by 2009.
Among those to make submissions in the coming days will be home and landowners, An Taisce and a number of residents' groups.