The next stage of the anticipated West Keira shopping centre development kicked off on Wednesday night, with the first steps to connect the new $200 million project with the existing Wollongong Central building.
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GPT development manager Steven Turner said structural work on the bridge to link the two sites was under way, calling it a "significant milestone" in the construction process.
"We're making good progress due to the good weather at the moment. You can see the structure coming together along street level," he said.
Mr Turner said the West Keira development, due to house more than 80 new stores, was on track for a third quarter, 2014, opening. The second half of the bridge will be installed in coming weeks, with the link's completion set to coincide with the opening of the centre.
While the most obvious signs of progress are happening high above Keira Street, just as much is going on below the cars, trucks and tarmac - one half of a tunnel linking the new and existing sites has been dug, with work on the second half to begin in January.
Traffic on Keira Street between Crown and Market streets, reduced to two lanes since the beginning of construction to allow the tunnel to be dug, will switch to the opposite side of the road next month as the tunnel is completed.
"We've excavated half of Keira Street, and we will physically switch that traffic over soon."
He said the facade would start to come together in coming months, as restaurants and shop fronts on street level were built.
"You will start to see, early next year, the imagery you see on all the posters."
Mr Turner said it would be business as usual for most of next year.
Information on businesses opening in the centre will be announced in coming weeks.
