A construction boom has hit hard the anticipated completion of the National Stadium.

The thriving buildings trade has pushed bids for the next phase of the Prospect project through the roof -- forcing trustees to scale down their plans.

Parts of the $50 million complex have now been put on hold and other components have had to be adjusted to enable the multi-use sports and community site to come in on price and time.

Work on the next phase was due to have started by now, but the escalating price of building the cricket pavilion forced trustees back to the drawing board.

Excavations are now expected to start in November, with an anticipated completion of the $600,000 building next May.

The rising costs have meant the gymnasiums and swimming pool have been put on hold until after the all-weather playing pitches are completed.

Charles Marshall, deputy chairman of the board of trustees, said the prices that came in for the pavilion shocked the trustees and -- with funding presently coming from Government -- meant they had to look again at the cost.

"We went out for bids on the cricket pavilion and the north field,'' he said.

"The bids that came in were ridiculous prices and we had to rethink the whole thing.

"We decided to re-negotiate with the lowest bidder to see if we could come up with a reasonable cost and get the project going.

"The construction industry is over-heated. This project is for the people of Bermuda. We have to be accountable and make sure we get value for money.'' Hence, some of the outside work, including landscaping, road lighting and fencing has been deferred. Inside the pavilion, the air conditioning plant has been downgraded.

The grandstand is to go out to bid by January and work could start by the summer. Much of the structure is expected to be pre-fabricated overseas prior to erection.

"The gym has been put on hold for the time being, while we concentrate on the grandstand,'' Mr. Marshall said. "The Government wants to focus on that, then go back to the major building.'' The Progressive Labour Party Government decided to fund part of the project to get some work underway, after the plan stalled under the previous administration.

Mr. Marshall said although funds were currently coming from Government, they were hopeful that businesses could be attracted.

"The private sector are still quite interested,'' he said. "I believe that the National Stadium will be the focus of economic and social change in the community.'' Out of the running: Work has slowed at National Stadium at Prospect as Government planners attempt to reign in construction costs which have risen dramatically because of the Island's current building boom. To cut costs, the pool and gymnasium portions of the project have been put on hold while work focuses on completing the grandstand section of the stadium.