PHOTO GALLERY: Breaking ground on the Scott Boulevard expansion project

Boone County Commissioner Ken Pearson, Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade, state Sen. Kurt Schaefer, Fifth Ward Councilwoman Laura Nauser, and Mayor Darwin Hindman break ground for the Scott Boulevard expansion project at the corner of Scott and Chapel Hill Road on Friday. Hindman joked about the hard ground: "Usually they've got this started for you," he said.   ¦  VALERIE MOSLEY

COLUMBIA — A group of state, county and city elected officials broke ground on the Scott Boulevard expansion project Friday morning.

Scott Boulevard will be expanded to four lanes plus a center median. The construction was identified as a 2005 ballot issue project and will cost $16.1 million. The estimated completion date is fall or summer of 2010.