The city of Austin is planning to finish construction in 2018 on the final segment of the first phase of a hike and bike trail in North Austin.

The Northern Walnut Creek Trail stretches more than 3 miles from Balcones District Park to Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park. The 10-foot-wide trail includes 2-foot shoulders and several trailheads. The trail also connects to the shared-use path that runs along MoPac that was completed as part of the MoPac express toll lane project by the Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.

In May 2016 officials celebrated the opening of Phase 1 of the trail from Walnut Creek to MoPac. However, the city had to break out the westernmost piece of the first phase into a separate project called Phase 1A to address a steep grade and complete the work in coordination with Austin Water to install a larger wastewater system to replace the Waters Park water main.

Clay Harris, project manager with the Public Works Department, said the first two segments of Phase 1A were substantially complete Jan. 11. A contract for the final three segments is set to go before Austin City Council Feb. 1 for approval, and then construction could begin in March, weather permitting.

The work on the final piece is expected to take about six months to complete. Phase 1A costs $847,000 and is funded through city bonds.

Design work also continues on Phase 2 of the trail that would extend the trail through Walnut Creek park, under Lamar Boulevard, ending at I-35. Design is estimated to wrap up this spring with construction occurring in 2019.