Ratepayers will fork out almost $100,000 per metre to deliver a link between Brisbane's existing riverwalk and the CBD's botanic gardens.

Brisbane City Council deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner admitted the expected $17 million spend on 176 metres of path wasn’t cheap but said it was needed as low-cost infrastructure had failed in the past.

he preliminary design for the Alice Street/Edward Street (Botanic Gardens) Riverwalk project.

Fairfax Media revealed the council had preliminary design plans for the ‘missing link’ in Brisbane’s Riverwalk project, which would connect the City Reach Boardwalk at the corner of Edward Street and Alice Street to the Bunya Walk in the City Botanic Gardens.

On Tuesday, Cr Schrinner said initial estimates for the new cyclist and pedestrian pathway were about $17 million, but this could change as the council went out to market.