LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – In a little more than 800 days, the section of Interstate 10 between I-49 in Lafayette and Breaux Bridge will be three lanes, both east and westbound.

Thursday afternoon’s symbolic groundbreaking ceremony both state and local officials expressed the importance of the project.

The groundbreaking ceremony represents a culmination of the combined efforts between state and local government.

Department of Transportation and Development Secretary, Shawn Wilson says, “We were awarded a 60 million dollar Fastlane competitive grant from the federal highways of the U.S. department of transportation.”

The 7-mile widening project will begin at the I-10/I-49 interchange, ultimately forming a 6 lane highway. District 46 Representative, Mike Huval says, “I-10 was designed for a population of about 16,000 cars per day, this goes back to the 1970’s.”

DOTD currently estimates that figure to be closer to 60 thousand every single day. Which is why the new and improved corridor will include pavement replacement within the existing lanes and one additional lane in each direction of the interstate.

Governor John Bel Edwards says, “It’s one of the most congested and one of the most critical in the country. This project is going to benefit the industrial and multi-moto companies both east and west of Lafayette. We’re going to be able to move freight through this corridor faster and safer because of the additional capacity.”

Construction is set to begin in May of this year and should be completed by the Fall of 2019. James Construction was awarded the bid, they aim to finish the project in 800 days.