Council leaders have been assured taxpayers in Edinburgh will not have to fund compensation claims from roadworks linked to the new Forth road bridge.
Transport Minister Keith Brown told Holyrood he has now sent a formal communication to City of Edinburgh Council on the issue.
The local authority has said it fears it may be liable for between £93,000 and £4.4 million to compensate for noise, disturbance, vibration, smell and fumes caused by construction of the M9 spur to the bridge.
MSPs on the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Committee called for the council to be given a formal assurance on the matter.
The Transport Minister said he did this, assuring Edinburgh City Council that part of the Forth Road Bridge Bill would transfer liabilities from Forth Estuary Transport Authority (Feta) to the Scottish Government.
It will pave the way for a single operator to manage the new crossing and the existing road bridge. Feta would be dissolved, with its assets and liabilities transferred to Scottish ministers and staff transferred to the new operator.
In response to concerns raised by Labour, Government transport spokeswoman Elaine Murray said the committee has received assurance the contract will guarantee the right to trade union membership.
Tory transport spokesman Alex Johnstone raised fears over the potential for one operator to manage the bridge for 15 years.
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