If you, like me, are a fan of superhero films, this will be a familiar scene: the false dilemma. Our hero finds themselves face to face with the latest villain, who presents them with a seemingly fixed moral trap. Save the one you love or this ferry full of innocent people – that kind of thing.

We hold our breath. Beads of sweat form on our hero’s upper lip. Cogs turn. And then – the setup is refused entirely. Our hero takes the third option. The two presented were never the only possibilities. The love interest and the people are saved.

When Transport Scotland presented three early options for the permanent fix of Glasgow’s decaying Woodside Viaducts back in February, they did not present the only possibilities. The options they put forward were heavily weighted in favour of the status quo – keeping the elevated motorway in place either through repairs or replacement. The third option, to remove the viaducts, was framed as chaos. But the model they used to sound the alarm about potential traffic disruption constructed a partial narrative.

Herein lies the false dilemma: that we keep the motorway running through the city, or we abolish it overnight with no accompanying measures. This would mean clogging up the M74, which is already at capacity and sending scores of displaced vehicles racing through residential streets like a mischief of rats.

Here are the plans for the M8 - and what happens next to Scotland's vital motorway

Here are the plans for the M8 - and what happens next to Scotland's vital motorway

This is a once in a generation chance to get rid of the M8 in Glasgow - let's grab it

This is a once in a generation chance to get rid of the M8 in Glasgow - let's grab it

Repair, replace, or remove? Transport Scotland reveals Glasgow M8 plans

Repair, replace, or remove? Transport Scotland reveals Glasgow M8 plans

What has gone wrong with the M8 and will it ever........

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