CARIBOU — Construction is set to begin on the 4.3 mile highway project in northern Maine known as the Caribou Connector.

The roadway that will link Maine Route 161 and U.S. Route 1 is designed to encourage economic growth in Caribou and Aroostook County.

Gov. John Baldacci and other officials held a ground breaking for the project on Monday.

Preliminary construction on the first portion of the project is due to begin later this fall. Construction will resume in the spring.

The Bangor Daily News says the highway is expected to be open to traffic in the fall of 2012.

The project is expected to cost about $20 million.