THE go-ahead to complete the missing link of the M74 has finally been given.

After years of delays and wrangling, Scottish Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson announced today the contract had been agreed.

Work is expected to start in May and be completed by the end of 2011.

Glasgow City Council leader Steven Purcell said it was "tremendous news for jobs, for commuters and for the 2014 Commonwealth Games".

The deal was reached after a fixed price was agreed of £445million, plus an allowance of £12m for the possible treatment of mine workings on the route.

40-year dream to become a reality EXTENDING the M74 through Glasgow has been under starter's orders for the last 40 years but will now become a reality before thousands of spectators arrive in the city for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. And it will play a pivotal role in the regeneration of the East End with major leisure, business and residential projects helping to create thousands of new jobs in communities long blighted by poverty. Bypassing the daily bottleneck of vehicles stuck on the Kingston Bridge was first mooted in the 60s. Manufacturers repeatedly complained lengthy delays slowed down the movement of goods from the West of Scotland to market places around the world. Campaigners argued that extending the M74 by just five miles from the Fullarton Interchange to link with the M8 west of the Kingston Bridge would also be a major catalyst in the regeneration of rundown areas such as Parkhead. There's to be the East End Regeneration Route - a new four-lane road - which will connect the M74 extension from Polmadie to Rutherglen Bridge, the Gallowgate, Provan Road via Parkhead Forge and then on to the M8. It's part of a £1.6billion project to breathe new life into East End communities. The economic benefits which will be triggered by today's decision to put in place the so-called "missing link" will be enormous but the scheme looked to be in jeopardy until environmentalists with Friends of the Earth abandoned their controversial threat of a legal challenge.

All the work will be carried out by the sole bidder for the project, Interlink M74, a joint venture involving Morgan Est, Balfour Beatty, Morrison Construction and Sir Robert McAlpine.

The five-mile route will run from Fullarton junction, near Carmyle, to the M8 just west of the Kingston Bridge. It will pass over some of the most contaminated and polluted parts of Scotland and will help transform urban wasteland into business and residential areas.

Completion of the route will significantly reduce congestion on the busiest stretch of the M8 through Glasgow and provide a major economic boost to west Scotland.

The south and east of Glasgow, Rutherglen and Cambuslang will all benefit.

Business leaders believe the scheme will return significantly more than its cost.

A Scottish Enterprise spokesman said: "We are pleased the extension has got the go-ahead.

"The economic benefits of an effective transport network are well documented and the road will open up large parts of the city and beyond to significant new investment opportunities."

Glasgow Shettleston MSP Frank McAveety said: "It will be a major benefit for the Glasgow economy. It will make a massive difference to the job opportunities in the East End."

Although Mr Stevenson said the Government had always been committed to the project, there had been fears of further delays because ministers would only guarantee it would be completed in time for the 2014 Games.

Although details of how the contract will be funded are still to emerge, it is believed the deal was concluded only after the city council agreed to front-load its contribution.

Today, Mr Stevenson backed the plan: "Following an internal review of the procurement processes the Government is confident the procedures are robust.

"We are happy for Glasgow City Council to award the contract to the Interlink M74 Joint Venture.

"This extension will complete the motorway network and reduce congestion on the busiest stretch of the M8. It will also provide links to regeneration projects in the East End and bring much-needed new investment.

"This project is also a crucial piece of the infrastructure required to provide excellent transport facilities for the visitors and athletes expected in the city as a result of the 2014 Games.

"The bid achieves value for money and I am determined to ensure there is robust management of this scheme to protect the public purse."

A report by consultants EC Harris for Transport Scotland said the bid represented "clear value for money" when it was compared to current construction costs.

Around £200m has already been invested in the project on securing land and advanced works.

Plans to complete the missing link were first announced in September 2000, but the project has been beset by delays.

Draft Road and Compulsory Purchase Orders were published in March 2003.

A Public Local Inquiry ran from December 2003 to March 2004 resulting in a decision to proceed with the scheme in March 2005.

Friends of the Earth lodged an appeal against the decision in May 2005 but the environment group abandoned its appeal in June 2006, ending the statutory processes.

The tendering process then began in August 2006.