Funding in place to build boardwalk

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Thursday afternoon a big announcement is expected concerning the boardwalk over Lady Bird Lake.

The Trail Foundation will announce it has raised $2.4 million in just eight months and is ready to uphold their commitment to the city.

Last year voters approved $14 million in bond money to close the one point one mile gap along the Hike and Bike Trail.

The Trail Foundation committed to raise $3 million.

"So we're well on track to make all of the payments on schedule," said Susan Rankin, Executive Director of The Trail Foundation.

Right now the eastern part of the Hike and Bike Trail is separated by Interstate 35 because the trail comes to an end near the Statesman building. The solution to connect the west and eastbound ends comes in the form of a boardwalk.

"It's going to come out on water wherever geography or property mandates it and it's going to be on land whenever we can possibly arrange it," said Griffin Davis, Campaign for the Trail Chairman.

"It will open up what you see along the eastern part of the trail which is one of the most beautiful areas of the trail to the entire city of Austin," said Rankin.

Because The Trail Foundation was able to raise the money so fast they have upped the ante and made a new goal to raise $5 million to cover the cost of new restrooms, gathering spots, and removing invasive species.

"Those things and improvements are needed up and down the trail so we decided to have a larger campaign to take into account the completion and all the other improvements," said Davis.

Construction of the boardwalk could be months away as the city begins taking bids for the project next month.

"It will be spectacular," said Rankin.

The boardwalk is expected to take two years to construct.