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The widening of Collier Boulevard from U.S. 41 East to Davis Boulevard began with fanfare Friday as third-graders from Manatee Elementary School shoveled the first spades of dirt near VeronaWalk.

The project will expand that stretch of Collier Boulevard from four lanes to six and add a 10-foot pathway on the east side of the road for pedestrians and cyclists.

The job is scheduled to be complete by fall 2009 at an estimated cost of $25 million.

“This has been on the long-range transportation plan for many, many years,” said Jay Ahmad, director of the Collier County Transportation Services Division.

Widening it sooner than later was a priority because the road serves as an evacuation route for Marco Island and the main road for a growing number of residential developments as well as Physicians Regional Medical Center-Collier Boulevard, he said.

“There’s a lot of growth along this corridor, and I think it’s going to serve those folks,” Ahmad said. “You come during the peak hours and there’s quite a lot of traffic, and we hope the additional lane will help relieve the congestion.’’

The project also includes street lighting, which is currently absent from that stretch of the boulevard, and on-road bike lanes.

“It’s a pretty straightforward widening project, not really a lot of technical stuff,” said Joseph Restino, vice president of Better Roads Inc., the project contractor.

He said work on the east side will have to be planned outside of the rainy season because a canal runs alongside the road. Still, Restino estimates his crews will finish ahead of schedule.

Four lanes of traffic will be open throughout the duration of the expansion, and the majority of work will be done at night and during low-traffic hours, project managers said.

“Your tax dollars, I believe, are being well-used,” County Manager Jim Mudd said at Friday’s groundbreaking ceremony.

The 7.5-mile stretch of Collier Boulevard to be widened is part of four improvement projects along the corridor from U.S. 41 to Immokalee Road.

Major developments along the stretch that broke ground Friday include Naples Lakes Country Club, Forest Glen Golf and Country Club, Cedar Hammock Golf and Country Club, Naples National Golf Club, Lely Resort Golf and Country Club, Fala Bella Resort and Country Club and VeronaWalk.

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Victoria Macchi can be reached at vmmacchi@gmail.com