broken ground

[Unregistered1965]

Hello everyone,

Will you explain to me, please, the meaning of "broken ground" in the following fragment:

"Until recently antimatter has been created only in very small amounts (a few atoms at a time). But CERN has now broken ground on its new Antiproton Decelerator–an advanced antimatter production facility that promises to create antimatter in much larger quantities."

Thank you in advance.

[Tdol]

Made progress in a new area.