A groundbreaking ceremony at the Dover Dam Monday celebrated a new phase of construction in Tuscarawas County. for the second phase in the construction.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave a $20 million contract for construction, and local congressmen and partners in the project came out in support of the progress.

The dam construction aims to prevent flooding episodes, like the damage from the river flooding in March. For residents and businesses along the Tuscarawas River, contractors said the project will help to keep them safe.

"The public safety is our top priority, and that's why we wanted to get started as quickly as possible on this project," said Col. Robert Peterson, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A concrete platform lines the dam from phase one of the construction. Phase two will place at least 20 anchors along the dam to help with water flow.

"It will help stabilize the dam, so if we have to hold some water back, we would feel more confident then that the dam is stable," said Peterson.

House Rep.Bob Gibbs (R—18th district), of Ohio, said that lessening the chances for flooding could help in bringing jobs in the area.

"When you think about it, there'd be a lot less economic activity downstream from here because of the threat of being flooded every time in the spring when it's changing amount of rains," said Gibbs.

The project is a long work in progress, with construction on the dam not expected to be finished until 2015. But contractors said there's more work for the entire dam system.

"After we complete work here, we have much more dam-safetywork throughout the Musckingum Basin," said Peterson.