Break ground

They broke ground on the new library last month.

Source: wiktionary

Try to break a little more land every year; sod corn is good for fodder. Keep turning the land, and always put up more hay than you need.

Source: wiktionary

Just over a year on from Notice-to-Proceed, HS2 Ltd launched the first of ten tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that will dig 64 miles of tunnels on Phase 1. Florence broke ground on May 13, and was joined by Cecilia in the week commencing June 29 [...] to bore a pair of ten-mile-long tunnels beneath the Chilterns.

Source: wiktionary

Then there's the archaeology. As mentioned, the new station sits on part of what used to be Metchley Roman Fort, dating back to c.48AD. Those working on the project had to stay in close contact with Historic England to gain consent whenever they broke ground.

Source: wiktionary