Mayor Tory Whanau turns the first sod for the Golden Mile project. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The final design contract for the Golden Mile is expected to be signed in November.
Nearly six years on from when work first started on the capital's Golden Mile upgrade, ground was broken back in April, despite construction contracts not being signed for the entire project.
The project has been controversial, as some businesses do not support it.
In a briefing to elected members on Thursday morning transport and infrastructure manager Brad Singh said that when the Wellington City Council had taken the project over from Lets Get Wellington Moving design had not been completed.
After the council had completed it, he said in February it was discovered it was $20 million over budget.
The design had since been reviewed and brought back into budget.
The council was still awaiting a final price from the contractors before signing the contract, but expected it to be signed in November and within budget.
The total cost budgeted for the project is $139.4 million. That's made up of $116.3m in implementation cost and an additional $9.5m in contingency costs.
However, during questions from councillors Singh conceded that as the contract would be signed after the local body election it was possible a future council could choose to stop the project.
The Labour Party's candidate for Wellington mayor, Andrew Little, told RNZ in May it would be unethical for the current council to sign any more contracts for a major construction project.
"I'd expect the mayor and current council to read the room, frankly. This is a city, a central city, and central city business leaders are really under the pump at the moment.
"The one thing they don't want is more disruption."
