HOPKINS, Minn. — Testing on the METRO Green Line Extension is underway, and crews just finished their first week of work.

"Today marks a major milestone for our regional transportation system," Deb Barber, Interim Chair for the Metropolitan Council, said.

Getting to this point is a year-long saga. According to the Met Council's website, the very first step in the METRO Green Line Extension started all the way back in 2010.

The price for the 14.5-mile project has also changed.

"The price has gone up, as you mentioned, we're at $2.86 billion," Barber said during a press conference at the METRO Green Line's Blake Road station Thursday morning.

According to a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor released in April, the initial projected cost was $1.25 billion in 2011.

"Sh

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