Boaters and water-lovers will have a new destination in Padanaram by year’s end, as construction of the town’s public maritime center will begin next week.

Construction will begin on August 20 with the installation of pilings and water-related work by a marine subcontractor, according to Director of Development Deborah Melino-Wender.

It’s all for the construction of the single-story, 530 square-foot maritime center and pier at the corner of Bridge and Water Streets.

Once complete, the building will include a public deck featuring views of the harbor, a boat ramp, two bathrooms and showers, and a 14-by-14 foot multi-purpose room, all open to boaters and the general public. The room will be used as a welcome center and as seasonal offices for the Dartmouth Harbormaster, who works next door.

Melino-Wender said after initial water-related work is done, the current project timeline calls for construction of the pier and deck, gangway, and floating docks starting in September alongside construction of the main building. Construction is scheduled to wrap up by the end of December, she said.

The $1.47 million project is being funded through a $1.2 million state Seaport Economic Council grant, $200,000 in community preservation funds, and the Department of Public Works and Waterways Commission.

With the grant originally coming in at $1 million, earlier in the year the state approved an additional $200,000 in grant funding after construction bids for the project came in higher than expected. The DPW will also take on site work to save about $50,000 from the cost.

The contractor is R. P. Valois and Company.

Construction has been a long time coming for the project, which once faced an uncertain future. Town Meeting voters rejected an original $1.7 million pitch for the project in June 2016. The project was to be located further up Water Street and required a $768,000 purchase of a private residence.

A revised plan was developed for town-owned land, currently used as a parking lot, at the corner of Bridge and Water Streets, which eliminated the need to purchase private land. Town Meeting voters approved the new plans at the 2016 Fall Town Meeting.

In 2017, the town was able to secure grant funding for the project again, after submitting a modified grant application to the Seaport Economic Council following the change in location.