Opponents of the M74 extension are promising direct action as they gear up their campaign against the link. Transport Minister Nicol Stephen has overruled the recommendation of a public inquiry and given the stretch of motorway in Glasgow the green light.
Joint Action Against the M74 (JAM74) said almost 100 people had committed themselves to non-violent direct action within hours of the announcement.
The group said it wanted to cause "maximum disruption" to the project.
The new stretch of road would link the M8 motorway to the M74, which comes to an abrupt end in Cambuslang.
Positive aspects
It has been estimated that it would cost between �375m and �500m to complete the route.
Mr Stephen said on Thursday that the Scottish Executive believed it was in the public interest to proceed with the project.
He said it was a "key element" in completing the motorway network and argued that the public inquiry reporter had not given enough weight to the positive aspects of the scheme.
 |  The level of opposition to this road is immense and people are very angry that the executive choose to ignore the findings of its own inquiry |
The decision was welcomed by motoring organisations and business leaders, as well as Glasgow City Council.
However, it sparked anger from environmental campaigners and from Green and Socialist politicians, who have already promised direct action.
JAM74 said they were among almost 100 people who had signed the "beat the bulldozers" pledge cards committing themselves to non-violent opposition.
The coalition of community, environmental and sustainable transport groups said it had been contacted by protesters from Germany and the US offering support.
More than 1,000 pledge cards will be distributed by the protest group, which also plans to hand them out at the G8 protest events in July.
 The stretch of road will link the M74 and the M8 |
Chairman Will Jess said: "The Scottish Executive has shown complete disregard for the public's opinion.
"The level of opposition to this road is immense and people are very angry that the executive chose to ignore the findings of its own inquiry.
"As well as taking legal action against the minister's decision, JAM74 is planning a rigorous campaign of non-violent direct action."
Green MSP Patrick Harvie added: "If ministers think opposition to this road will simply die out, they are grossly mistaken.
"Their decision to press ahead with the motorway marked the beginning of a new, direct campaign by protestors.
"The signing of these pledge cards by protestors shows that we're in this for the long haul."
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