“The route to today has not always been positive,” Department of Planning, Community & Economic Development director Natalie Erdman said at a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday. “It’s had twist and turns. It’s had barriers and disappointments.”

The new 562-stall parking garage will replace the 60-year-old Government East ramp on Pinckney Street. However, Government East will remain open until the new parking garage is operational.

“We will have continuous, uninterrupted use of the Government East garage and those 500-plus parking spaces in the heart of downtown,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said.

Mayor Paul Soglin said the new parking garage is part of an effort by the city to reduce surface parking.

“The project is going to be part of a major endeavor by the city over the years to eliminate as much surface parking as possible, put as much parking below ground as possible and simultaneously see the greatest possible private development, which is really the core of this project,” Soglin said.

Construction of the new garage is expected to be complete in Dec. 2018.

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