WESTBROOK – Tuesday morning was a day three years in the making.

After a long wait and some tense moments when it seemed like the project was in danger of falling through, Idexx Laboratories broke ground on a new $35 million expansion to its corporate headquarters on Eisenhower Drive in Westbrook.

Jonathan Ayers, Idexx chief executive officer, was joined at the ceremony by Gov. Paul LePage, Sen. Susan Collins, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud and state Sen. Phil Bartlett, as well as a host of local officials all happy to mark the latest expansion in the city for Idexx, internationally known for its veterinary testing and water quality tests and equipment.

While the new building, which will be close to 108,000 square feet, has been in the planning stages for about three years, the project had been in a holding pattern after Pike Industries announced it would be increasing blasting operations at Pike’s quarry, located at the corner of Spring Street and Eisenhower Drive, close to the Idexx campus.

“It did look like we were on the rocks a couple of times,” City Councilor John O’Hara said. “But really, the people behind the scenes were working every minute to make sure that our ship did not flounder.”

The Pike proposal was met with resistance from neighbors concerned about the noise and potential damage from the increased blasting. Additionally, Idexx officials said that they had concerns about Pike’s plans to build an asphalt plant on the property.

Starting in early 2010, the city held a lengthy series of discussions with Pike and forged a consent agreement between Pike and the city in Cumberland County Superior Court, where Pike agreed to a series of restrictions on its operations. While many residents and some neighboring businesses and industries continue to fight Pike in court, Idexx is not a party in those lawsuits, and company representatives made it clear as of last summer that they were proceeding with plans to build the complex.

And on Tuesday, those plans came to fruition as Ayers was joined by high-ranking politicians and the other legislators to take up ceremonial silver shovels and turn over the dirt that marked the start of construction.

Watching the ceremony, Westbrook City Administrator Jerre Bryant said there were times that he thought the project might have been in jeopardy, but he praised the efforts of Idexx to make sure that all parties reached a beneficial solution.

“The commitment to growth (from Idexx) has always been there, but we had to work very hard to make sure everybody was comfortable to proceed on this project,” Bryant said. “The one thing I really admire about Idexx is we identified early on some potential conflicts with the growth of the Pike site and instead of saying, ‘No way, no how, it’s my way or the highway,’ they sat down and tried to work things out so both companies can move forward.

“And that’s where everybody succeeds and everybody prospers. They could have easily used their muscle to say, ‘It’s either us or them.’ They didn’t force the city into that decision. They worked with us and the results today are that both locations are growing and prospering.”

Ayers said that he was glad to see construction start on the new building, which will accommodate up to 300 new employees and will also have the distinction of being the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building for Idexx and the first one in Westbrook. LEED certification means that a building was designed and built with an eye on sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

“(This building) demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and green initiatives,” Ayers said.

“This is a very exciting day for Idexx,” said Ayers. “Idexx has been proud to call Maine home for more than 25 years, so it is particularly rewarding that we are able to make this important investment in the state. We look forward to continued growth in Maine and the opportunity to create jobs. Moreover, Idexx and our employees are committed to contributing to the well-being of our communities through volunteerism and charitable giving, so even more people can benefit from our success.”

LePage said he was pleased to help support a company that continues to expand its presence in Maine while adding jobs.

“I extend my sincerest congratulations to Idexx, and thank them for this investment which will potentially mean hundreds of good jobs for Mainers,” LePage said. “In this down economy, we need to continue to work toward promoting policies that will help Maine’s job creators expand and succeed.”

Through the years, Idexx has certainly expanded its employee base, starting with nine in 1985 and growing to its current size of 1,800 employees.

“That’s actually 1,000 more employees than we had 10 years ago,” Ayers said of the growth.

O’Hara said he was happy to see construction begin, because in addition to the new jobs that the expanded Idexx headquarters will bring, the construction also means people will be going to work to build the facility.

“I love seeing steel going in the ground,” said O’Hara. “I love seeing (people) going to work. The lovely thing is that it’s all happening here in the greater Portland region. This is going to bring jobs that have never been here before and that’s really the key,” he said. “And these positions are positions for the brand-new economy, and that really is what’s first and foremost.”

And with Idexx likely adding more jobs in the coming years as the new building is completed, it was easy for O’Hara to sum up his feelings.

“It’s a great day for all involved,” he said.

Flanked by, from left, Gov. Paul LePage, Sen. Susan Collins, Rep. Chellie Pingree, Rep. Mike Michaud and state Sen. Phil Bartlett, Idexx Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Ayers speaks during the groundbreaking ceremonies for the company’s $35 million expansion on Tuesday.