COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Construction has begun on the education corridor in Coeur d'Alene. Crews broke ground on the site on river road near downtown, which will connect to Northwest Boulevard, Hubbard Road and College Drive.

Friday was the groundbreaking for the 17-acre project, which will transform dirt roads into sidewalks and future buildings.

The education corridor is a project years in the making, which hopes to create opportunities to expand higher education in North Idaho.

Construction will start next on North Idaho College. The first phase will cost $3.6 Million, building roads, bike paths and landscaping.

“The fact that we'll be able to build nice roads in here, we'll have another way for people to enter the college off of Northwest Boulevard, it will relieve some pressure on the housing area next to the college. I think those are the immediate things that work for the college,” John Martin of North Idaho College said.

In the future, the hope is to add buildings, the first one a joint venture between North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College and University of Idaho.

There was some resistance to this project; some people say it was not the right place for a college to expand and that they should go after cheaper property.

Several organizations, including colleges and a development corporation, celebrated Friday's step forward.