Manufacturers rely on transport

The cost has been put at up to �307m, a figure the councils said cannot be met by local government.

The councils have argued that the project is feasible under a public private partnership scheme.

They have offered �20m towards the project if the executive puts in �22m over the next 30 years.

The councils said the rest would be made up with private investment.

The report concluded that the current situation harms the 60% of export manufacturing based in Strathclyde and that an extension to the M74 would mean the creation of 42,500 jobs.

The extension has been met with fierce opposition from environmentalists, who view it as a potential waste of money.

Opposition

Pressure group JAM74 said the proposed six-to-eight lane motorway would be raised on 40ft concrete stilts as it crosses Glasgow.

The group said: "JAM74 believes this 1960s style road planning will cause pollution, health problems, community breakdown and won't free up traffic or bring the jobs that are promised.

"JAM74 is calling for a halt to the road plans and for a comprehensive study of all transport options for the area.

"There has never been any research on alternative transport options or the effects of the motorway on communities and the environment."