The transport minister refused to discuss compensation for businesses who have been blighted by the bridge closure.
Derek Mackay sidestepped questions from MSPs after it emerged each journey from places like Dundee is costing haulage firms up to £95 more than usual.
Mr Mackay said the “priority has to be to get the bridge reopened as quickly as possible”.
“That’s the best possible mitigation for the current disruption,” he added.
Fife MSP Alex Rowley said businesses in Fife and elsewhere are “feeling the financial burden” and called on Mr Mackay to work with businesses to see how they can be helped.
Mr Mackay replied he is “focused” on reopening the bridge.
Lewis Macdonald, the North East Labour MSP, said: “Of course it is important that the Forth Road Bridge is reopened as soon as it is safe to do so, but the fact is that for every day the bridge remains closed, businesses across the north-east are losing money.
“Each journey to the central belt or further south is costing haulage firms from north-east Scotland up to £95 more than usual, meaning that they are losing money on every job.”
Engineers will be working around the clock including on Christmas Day in the attempt to meet the January 4 target for reopening the bridge.