Plans to connect Ireland's second and third largest cities continue to be a controversial issue for people in the area.
The N/M20 Cork-to-Limerick Road is a key element in Project Ireland 2040 - but numerous residents' groups have formed in opposition to the plans, which were first presented back in 2008.
The public consultation phase of the process has recently closed.
Dee Hosford the chairperson of the Whitechurch Residents Association.
She told Lunchtime Live they were left in the dark.
"This road was brought to tender in 2008, but the project was stopped in 2010 due to funding and all the rest of it - so it's been shelved for 10 years.
"We knew no more, and then on the 19th of November a neighbour text to say 'Oh lads, did you see that the public consultation opened?'
"So no one knew anything about it, we didn't know what they were talking about.
"We looked into it and found that they were after making plans to put a motorway which would run right down through the middle of our community - which would decimate, obviously, a small community like ours".
She said the consultation period opened on the November 19th and closed on January 15th, after they asked for an extension, owning to the coronavirus restrictions.
"It is the first consultation phase, which is where they engage with the public... put out the proposed routes that they want to do and invite the public's feedback on those."
"Obviously the fact that we're in a global pandemic we can't have public meetings or anything like that.
"We asked for an extension on that date so that we could look into it and investigate it more".
Developers will now examine the various different routes proposed.
She said the group is not anti-connectivity, but claimed planners are not using common sense.
"We understand that there has to be connectivity and new infrastructure put between Cork and Limerick, and then Limerick to Galway."
"But what we're saying in our area is they're not using common sense: there's a perfectly good road there, which is the existing N20.
She said while "it does need upgrades", it could be used for the plans.
"It was upgraded as recently as January of last year - the road is there - if they built this new motorway, we will have four parallel roads going to the same place".
'Fears for commercial trade'
Ian is a businessowner in Charleville, and says his concerns are from the other direction.
"I have concerns about the affects that a motorway would have on our town in terms of physical retail presence in our town.
"Our main street is alive and thriving, and I suppose punches above its weight as regards retail, trade and commercial trade".
"We in Charleville and Buttevant have the option: the three rule option was put to us.
"One is a motorway to the west of Charleville, another one was a motorway to the east of Charleville, and the upgrade of the N20".
"The more you think about the cost efficiency of it and the effect it has on the towns in-between Cork and Limerick - I'm all for progress and I'm all for development."
But he said: "I just fear that if you have a motorway four or five kilometres away from a town like Charleville that you can be in to Limerick in a quarter of an hour, or up to Cork, that it will have a huge effect in our retail trade".
