CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – City of Charleston officials are celebrating after breaking ground on a project over 15 years in the making. The long-awaited project is expected to serve as connection, between West Ashley and downtown Charleston, for pedestrians and bicyclists. Leaders said it will transform mobility in the area and bring the communities together. "Here we are 15 years later about to embark on, what really I think is in my tenure at the city, the most important transportation mobility that we've embarked on," Mike Seekings, councilman of the City of Charleston, said. "It's going to be a gamechanger, it's going to connect communities. It gives connection between West Ashley, downtown, and the medical district." One of the advocate groups for this project is Charleston Moves. Along with their help, the city was able to bring in funding from the state and federal level to make this bridge happen. This project will also link other greenspaces moving forward. "How it's connecting all these other bike ped projects as well. We look at Rivers [Avenue] as the ultimate gap in safe crossing and it's so nice because this is going to connect the West Ashley Greenway, the Marion bikeway, ultimately Bees Ferry, Glenn McConnell, and then downtown with all the routes identified by people pedal plan. Ultimately, getting you to the Ravenel Bridge," said Katie Zimmerman, executive director of Charleston Moves. The current bridge that connects West Ashley to the peninsula continues to be a safety hazard. Officials said many injuries and fatal deaths have occurred on it, but this new bridge will eliminate that. "You see people attempting to get across other than across, it's just flat out unsafe. Please don't do it. We're going to do this project as quickly and safely as we can until we finally cut the ribbon and open it up," Seekings said. "We will finally have given people a safe way to the city like you've never seen before." Officials expect the project to be completed in a few years, as it remains within budget and on time.