Construction underway on IOA's Harry Potter area

Construction is officially underway on The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a new area themed around the adventures of the boy wizard which is set to debut at Universal's Islands of Adventure park in 2009. Photos appearing on Jim Hill Media show that the site preparation portion of the build has begun, with truckloads of fill dirt being delivered to the site to provide a level working surface on which to build the several-hundred-ton Hogwarts Castle structure. According to the article, work on the footings and foundation is set to begin in January '08, with vertical construction expected to begin in late winter/early spring. In all, the castle, which will serve as the centerpiece of the area, may be "topped off" as early as this time next year.