The event was near the field office location of J.D. Abrams, contractor for the project, on Hill Road just off I-35 in southern Bell County.
Plans for the $81.7-million, 7.4-mile project call for I-35 to be widened from two to three main lanes from the Williamson/Bell county lines to just south of Salado near FM 2268. In addition to work on the main lanes, plans call for two-lane, one-way access roads. The project is anticipated to be complete in the fall of 2009.
The project is the second of seven projects with an estimated $1 billion total price tag and will result in a minimum of six lanes for an entire 94-mile corridor between the Williamson/Bell county lines and the I-35 east and west split near Hillsboro, officials said.
The first segment of the widening project was the $68.4 million Loop 363/Interstate 35 interchange project in Temple, which began in February.
Although ground was broken symbolically, actual dirt work has begun at points on related projects, specifically a rest stop just south of Salado.
John Obr, area TxDOT engineer based in Belton, said work is still being done on the east side of the interstate with utility relocation and right of way acquisition.
