The Army & Air Force Exchange Service broke ground Thursday on a $54 million construction project at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, a 10,000-square-foot shopping center to replace a 46-year-old post exchange.

Work on the new PX is to be finished in early 2020. Exchange Service officials said it will benefit 263,000 military personnel, their dependents and other authorized shoppers living in the greater San Antonio area.

Prices at exchange stores are generally cheaper than in the civilian world and all earnings support service members and their families.

schristenson@express-news.net