Despite a warning the light could go out on ambitious plans to re-erect the Stevenson-built Beamer Rock lighthouse, councillors have decided to delay a decision on the project.
It is proposed to rebuild the historic beacon removed to make way for the Queensferry Crossing above North Queensferry.
However, North Queensferry Community Council objected to the proposal and councillors want time to convince locals of the merits.
Fife Council’s south-west Fife area committee decided to allow four weeks for further consultation before a decision is taken to proceed and seek external funding.
Architect Douglas Speirs told members the best chance of securing grants depended on highlighting the 185-year-old structure’s World War I history as the centenary of its end approaches.
He said: “We have to have the monument installed by November 2018 if this project is to have any hope of winning funding.
“We are already working to an unimaginably tight deadline and if the decision is delayed I fear delivery would be even more difficult.”
Councillors heard that a community council stated that there would be lengthy disruption in Brock Street during construction.
However, Mr Spiers confirmed it would take little more than a day to transport the stones to the site on top of the rocky Ferryhills cutting.
Councillor Alice McGarry said: “I cannot for the life of me see why people would object to this.
“I think it has been due to the misinformation about the length of the disruption.”
Since being dismantled by Transport Scotland in 2011, the red and white lighthouse has been stored in a compound by the consortium building the bridge.
The project, initiated by North Queensferry Heritage Trust, is expected to cost between £50,000 and £100,000.