After a decade of false starts, construction has begun on the first section of the Birmingham Northern Beltline project, the Alabama Department of Transportation announced Friday.

The $64.7 million first phase of the project, which includes two bridges and spans two miles, is scheduled to be completed by late 2026, the agency said.

McInnis Construction of Summerdale, which was awarded the project segment in May, will be building a four-lane highway connecting State Route 79 and State Route 75 in Jefferson County.

When fully complete, the Northern Beltline will be 52 miles, stretching from I-59 in northeast Jefferson County to the I-459 interchange near Bessemer. It will be known as I-422.

More than 40 cities, three counties and numerous business voiced support for the construction, according to ALDOT.

Work began on the 52-mile, six-lane corridor in 2014, but construction was halted in 2016 after funding dried up.

In April, Gov. Kay Ivey announced $489 million in federal funding was secured to resume construction.

She hailed the project as a boon to Jefferson County businesses and would open up economic opportunities across the state.