Construction of an 850 meter footpath will begin in Omaha soon, despite the cost of the project being $220,000 over the original estimate. 

The footpath, which will extend from the roundabout into Omaha down to the Golf Club and Community Centre in the northern end, was initially allocated $645,000 from the Rodney Local Boards Transport Targeted rate fund. 

However, in last month's local board meeting, it was revealed that $868,200 was needed to cover all the costs involved with the project.

Although board members were concerned with this hike in price, they voted to approve the extra costs and go ahead with the project. 

The footpath is expected to be completed in October of this year.

The footpath is part of a larger, Rodney wide project that will see $7.3 million spent on footpaths over the next two years. 

Board chair, Phelan Pirrie, says a board priority is expanding the footpath network between towns and villages to improve safety and make it easier for people to get around.

“Many of our communities lack adequate footpaths or safe places to walk beside roads. Footpaths are needed in our towns and villages to make it safe for pedestrians.”