The inquiry into the closure of the Forth Road Bridge is to begin in a matter of weeks after the move was agreed by Holyrood.
MSPs agreed to begin taking evidence next month from Transport Scotland and Amey officials and engineers, representatives of the former Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta), independent engineering experts and transport minister Derek Mackay.
Mr Mackay said the bridge would be closed until the new year to allow repairs to be carried out on defective steel work.
It came amid claims from former West Lothian MP Tam Dalyell that Alex Salmond had been warned eight years ago about structural concerns by senior industry figures.
Below: Engineers examine the Forth Road Bridge
Jim Eadie, committee convener, said the closure has led to "significant disruption for commuters, businesses and visitors".
He said: "It has also led to a number of questions being asked and differences of opinion being aired on how the situation has arisen.
"This is clearly a matter of significant public interest and I firmly believe that the committee has both a duty and a responsibility to carry out its function as a committee in seeking to ask questions of the key stakeholders and to elicit answers on behalf of the public.
"The clear advice from the clerks is that it would be more useful for this committee to focus its inquiry on the structural defects identified and whether these could have been avoided or dealt with differently."
Mr Mackay said: "I welcome the committee's decision to hold an inquiry, once the bridge has reopened, and I look forward to participating in that process.
"From day one I have been open and accountable. I have also been fully accessible, updating Parliament, speaking to the media on a daily basis, chairing a technical briefing for MSPs and keeping stakeholders and political representatives up to date, I have taken every opportunity to be transparent on this issue of national importance - that will continue to be the case."
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