ROCKLAND – After years of planning, the $4.1 million expansion of Knox County Courthouse reached the groundbreaking stage Monday.

The ceremony was dedicated to former county Commissioner Edward Sleeper, who died unexpectedly Thursday, Commissioner Lawrence Nash said.

At Monday’s ceremony, state Court Administrator Ted Glessner said the courthouse will be a much better facility when the project is completed and will operate more efficiently.

The 9,975-square-foot, two-story addition will be on the south side of the existing annex, which was constructed in 1977. The original courthouse was built in 1874.

The project was delayed in part because of controversy over adequate parking. A subsequent lawsuit was filed by neighboring property owner DDK LLC, which is a group of practitioners that owns the Center for Health and Healing.

Recently, the county reached a parking resolution with the group.

Representatives of the architectural and general contracting firms involved in the project joined county and state officials for the brief groundbreaking. Scott Simons of Portland completed the architectural work. Wright-Ryan Construction of Portland is the general contractor and construction manager.

A construction trailer was moved on-site Monday for the start of the project, which is expected to be completed by Jan. 1.

Parking around the courthouse will be difficult during the construction phase, Nash said.