The historic groundbreaking ceremony for the Sandpoint bypass was conducted on the east end of Bridge Street. Gold shovels, a cowboy hat-shaped hard hat (guess who?),lots of speeches and the dirt was turned. United State Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo, U.S. Congressman Bill Sali, Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter and Lt. Governor (former Idaho Governor and U.S. Senate frontrunner) Jim Risch along with many state Senators and Representatives, Community leaders, and citizens were on hand for this red-letter day.