Boardwalk price tag now at $21 million

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Austin City Council is scheduled to vote on the construction contract for the Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk on Thursday that will carry a price tag of $21 million.

Once the deal is finalized, construction on the 18-month can begin.

The 1.2 mile boardwalk, which was expected to cost approximately $17 million, was one of the costliest and most controversial projects in the 2006 bond issue. Earlier this year, bids on the boardwalk project came in at around $20 million, about $3 million over budget.

The boardwalk will complete the 10.2-mile hike-and-bike loop around Lady Bird Lake. About half the project will be over the water. Nine rest stops and a restroom will be included. Connections also will be provided from at least two apartment projects on the water through cooperative agreements.

The Trail Foundation provided $3 million in funding, a figure that was incorporated into the original budget, Taylor said. Part of the boardwalk's estimated cost included the site of the Joe's Crab Shack restaurant, land where the contractor will be staged to begin construction on the project.

This month, the Waterfront Planning Advisory Board concluded a planning session with a national design team for the area around the boardwalk. The Lady Bird Lake Boardwalk would be one component of the plan for the South Shore Central Area around the Austin American Statesman and Hyatt Regency.

Bids on the boardwalk project will be reviewed by the council during Thursday's meeting