The Nenagh to Limerick Section was divided into three contracts. Contract 1 ran from Ch409 to Ch12360 extending from the Newport Junction to Lackenavea (Dunalley). Contract 2 ran from Ch12300 to Ch20300 from the townlands of Lackenavea (Dunalley) to Castlecranna and includes the Birdhill Link, while Contract 3 ran from Ch20300 to Ch36700 from the townlands of Castlecranna to Ballintotty. Judith Carroll and Company undertook Phase 1 Archaeological Testing of both Contract 2 and Contract 3. The fieldwork consisting of linear trial testing with offsets at 20m intervals was carried out simultaneously on both contracts from early January to early March 2006. The combined distance was approximately 24 km between Birdhill and Nenagh, including the existing Nenagh bypass which was to be widened.

The purpose of the archaeological testing was to establish the nature and extent of the archaeological sites along the route and to provide mitigation strategies. In addition to the overall test trenching report, individual preliminary reports for each archaeological site group identified along the route were produced.