HP theme park construction underway

Jim Hill Media reports today that construction on the upcoming Harry Potter theme park Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida is now underway. The website has also posted a batch of pictures of the construction site along with some new information about the project. Here's a snippet:

The construction team that Universal has hired are currently in the site prep portion of this project. Meaning that -- now that they've cleared all of the brush in this previously undeveloped part of that theme park -- the workmen are hauling in truckload after truckload of fill. Which is then spread out all over the Hogwarts Castle construction site.

"And why are they doing that?," you ask. Well, once it's been determined that the Universal Orlando Resort has a level working surface which will actually be to support the weight of this several-hundred-ton structure (which is quite a concern in sinkhole-prone Central Florida), then construction can then begin in earnest on Hogwarts Castle. With first the footings & foundation work getting underway in January, which will then be followed by vertical construction on this enormous show building in the late winter/early spring of next year.

According to folks familiar with the various construction phases of this ambitious IOA addition, Universal hopes to have Hogwarts Castle "topped off" by this time next year. Which will be quite a feat. Given that this show building is expected to dwarf the Jurassic Park River Adventure structure with its 85-foot drop that's located to the northeast of this construction site.

The park, called The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, is slated to open in late 2009 or early 2010.