By Steve Bargeton, political editor

Ministers will today make a series of momentous decisions on the future of Scotland’s road bridges.

The Scottish cabinet will consider the phase two review of bridge tolls and an independent audit report on corrosion affecting the Forth Road Bridge.

As revealed by The Courier last week, the recommendation will be to abolish tolls on the Erskine Bridge but keep them on the Forth and Tay bridges.

They are also set to reject the Forth Estuary Transport Authority’s plan for variable tolls, with a £4 peak rate charge.

Instead, they are likely to fix tolls at no more than £1 on the Forth and Tay.

Cabinet is also expected to give the green light to preparatory work for a possible new bridge across the Forth.

It is understood, however, that ministers will not give a firm commitment to a new bridge, leaving that decision for the next administration elected after the Holyrood elections in May next year.

The proposals will be put to cabinet this morning by Transport Minister Tavish Scott, who will make a statement to MSPs in the afternoon.

Speculation that the tolls are to be abolished on the Erskine Bridge as soon as April 1 will leave the Forth and the Tay the only tolled roads in Scotland.

The Executive lifted the tolls on the Skye Bridge in December 2004.

The prospect of the Forth and Tay remaining tolled has met anger across the political spectrum.

There is strong cross-party support for scrapping tolls on both bridges, with a number of Labour backbenchers refusing to toe the Executive line.