Construction crews began the first stage of the $38 million East Peoria/Downtown 2010 development project by literally breaking ground Tuesday.

Busting up the 68-acre concrete slab that covers the site of the planned retail shopping and residential development between West Washington and West Camp streets was the first, potentially costly step in the process. But the builder, Cullinan Properties Ltd., is using a unique method to cut the expenses of preparing the construction site.

The process is called rubblizing, said Jerome Steger, foreman of the Antigo Construction crew contracted by Cullinan for the job. Two machines called MHB Badger Breakers each roll slowly across the vacant lot carrying a pair of 1,600 pound hammers that are hydraulically raised and then dropped on the ground, smashing the concrete into rubble.

Article courtesy of PJStar.com