A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Rocklin Tuesday morning to kick off construction improvements on the Sierra College Boulevard and Interstate 80 interchange.

The $25 million project will modernize the 48-year-old overcrossing and create new development opportunities.

According to recent Caltrans surveys, traffic at the interchange has increased dramatically in the last 20 years. In the 1980s, less than 7,000 cars daily used the overcrossing. Now, more than 15,000 cars use the stretch of road everyday, according to Caltrans.

The new overcrossing will expand to five lanes, allow more clearance for vehicles and will include bike trails and sidewalks. City leaders said the project is also a green light for commercial and residential developers.