City commissioners caught a break Tuesday night.

Commissioners at their weekly meeting learned that a mistake in cost estimates for the proposed Burroughs Creek Trail in eastern Lawrence had significantly inflated the cost of the project – which would run from Hobbs Park near 11th and Delaware Streets to near Haskell Indian Nations University along 23rd Street.

A staff memo to commissioners had estimated it would cost $3.9 million to build the trail in concrete. The true estimate, though, is about $1.8 million. A clerical error resulted in the higher estimate.

The concrete option is still about $600,000 more than a proposal to build the trail with a limestone aggregate.

Commissioners unanimously approved the master plan for the project, but stopped short of endorsing the concrete or the limestone option. Commissioners said they wanted more cost information on the two options, but said they were leaning toward the concrete option.

Staff members also said decisions would need to made regarding whether to do the entire trail at once or in phases. Commissioners said they wanted the entire stretch of trail to be completed in one phase. But amenities such as trail connections, a splash park and various gardens and displays could be done in phases.