The current cost of Highland Council’s controversial Inverness West Link road will not be made public until March.
Campaigners against the route, which will create two new bridges over the Caledonian Canal and River Ness, have been calling for an update on the estimated bill.
Audit Scotland also highlighted the lack of financial information provided by the local authority in a report published earlier this month.
The figure for the West Link Road project reported to councillors in September last year was £34.4million, at July 2013 prices.
However, opponents believe that the costs could spiral to more than £60million when the separate project to enhance sporting facilities is taken into consideration.
Council members will also receive an update on the sports facilities at a meeting in the spring.
The council’s director of finance, Derek Yule, said: “We can confirm that the report on the project, including information about the costs, will be discussed by councillors during the Highland Council meeting in March.
“In the meantime I can confirm that the costs for the West Link project are in line with previously reported figures, with an allowance for construction inflation.”
Council leader Drew Hendry added: “There have been questions on costs raised, so to make clear what the situation with the West Link Road project is I’ve asked for a press release to be issued to clarify the situation in advance of members discussing the report next year.
“I’m pleased with this confirmation from the director of finance that costs are in line with what was previously reported as I believe the benefits for Inverness from the completion of the road are immense, both in terms of freeing the city centre of congestion and allowing the growth of neighbourhoods at Ness-side, Torvean and Charleston.”