Topeka ? Despite being more than twice the original estimate, the $285.6 million Capitol restoration has been closely monitored, officials said Thursday.

Don Heiman, the state’s chief information technology officer, told the Capitol Restoration Commission that he has examined more than 15,000 pages of documents related to the project and that cost overruns have been minimal.

Restoration estimates have increased from the $90 million to $120 million range in 2000 to the current cost of $285.6 million.

Officials said the increases have been caused in part by additional work approved by legislators, such as construction of an underground parking garage and new underground office space. In addition, inflation, until recently, had been higher than expected, and contractors have said they have found several problems with the building that weren’t initially apparent and needed to be repaired.

The project’s cost, duration and inconvenience is a frequent target of criticism from a small number of lawmakers. But legislative leaders have repeatedly remained committed to the project.

After hearing Heiman’s presentation, David Fritchen, head of the Department of Architectural Engineering and Construction Science at Kansas State University, and a member of the Restoration Commission, said he was impressed.

“This is the most comprehensive checks and balances,” system that he had seen, Fritchen said. Legislative leaders on the commission made no negative comments about the project, which is expected to be finished by 2012