The first signs of a major expansion project on the Glenn Highway in Alaska kicked off Friday. It started with the demolition of a building.

Crews are tearing down an old airplane hanger at Merrill Field in order to expand the Glenn Highway from four lanes to six. Mayor Mark Begich is happy about that. In fact, he has a name for that particular stretch of the Glenn.

"I call it the parking lot, which this road is if you're coming into or out of town.

You could be stopped at Alaska Sales and Service and get to Airport Heights you would be stalled here waiting for traffic to slowly crawl through the area," said Mayor Begich of the City of Anchorage.

Most of the work will get started in the spring. It's scheduled to be finished by the fall