Workers are widening Krome Avenue from two to four lanes to make the western Miami-Dade County road less dangerous after dozens of people were killed in crashes over the years.

The work began Feb. 23 and will continue until at least 2022 at a cost of more than $300 million, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The project comes after much controversy and opposition by groups that feared that widening would damage the Everglades in the northern segment of the road and agricultural communities along the southern stretch. The road is bisected by Tamiami Trail, which farther east is known as Southwest Eighth Street or Calle Ocho.