Wicklow County Council says it may seek further court action against the Glen of the Downs protesters, who showed no sign of ending their campaign yesterday.
Mr Charles McNamara, senior executive engineer with the council, conceded that a return to court was unavoidable after confrontations with protesters halted felling work in the forest.
"We have a court injunction which forbids people trespassing on what is now council property. I suppose we will have to go back into court to seek further legal measures against them," he told The Irish Times.
Mr McNamara dismissed reports that council workers were off-duty because yesterday was a holy day, saying that work was continuing in other areas through which the new £20-million dual carriageway will run.
He said that work, including tree felling, fencing and clearing, would be completed in the Glen of the Downs over coming days.
But the council is in for a few surprises if staff do go down to the woods today. The protesters continued what they call their "direct non-violent action" by wrapping barbed wire and thick rope around tree trunks.
Larger-scale efforts designed to thwart the chainsaws involved bales of wire netting and twine, collected over the past two years, wound through the forest debris.
"We are trying to make it as awkward as possible for them when they come to evict us. There are only a limited number of options when you want to make a peaceful demonstration," one protester, who wore a scarf across his face, said.
There were plenty of new faces arriving at the site as word spread about developments. The protesters' base-camp has been relocated on to the side of the road to increase the profile of the demonstration. A bonfire was lit and groups sat drinking tea and eating sandwiches, while listening to an eclectic musical trio.
Many drivers beeped in support as they went past, while others leaned out of car windows to voice their disapproval.
Mr Gavin Harte, a spokesman for the group, said he believed the council may fence parts of the area to prevent protesters from interfering with the work.