Construction season may be the bane of many Canadians, but news that work has resumed on Universal Orlando Resort’s Epic Universe is surely a hopeful sign that the pandemic, like winter in Canada, may finally be winding down.

The development of UOR’s fourth Orlando attraction paused in July 2020, as the company adjusted plans in the midst of the pandemic. The restart will begin immediately but is expected to take several months before reaching full-speed as Universal re-staffs for the project and reassembles its vendor and contractor teams.

Universal notes that restarting construction on the park will result in hundreds of jobs within Universal and thousands of jobs across Central Florida and will infuse billions of dollars into the Florida economy. Ultimately it is expected to also create more than 14,000 permanent jobs.

“The restart of construction of Epic Universe is a terrific moment for our employees and for our theme park business in Florida,” said Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Corporation. “It is our single-largest investment in the state and represents our enthusiasm for the spectacular park and the economic opportunities it will generate.”

Epic Universe will feature a new theme park, an entertainment centre, hotels, shops, restaurants and more. It will be located on a 300-hectare site that nearly doubles Universal’s total available acreage in Central Florida. It will be located a few kilometres from Universal Orlando’s current theme parks in Southwest Orange County – specifically, south of Sand Lake Road and east of Universal Boulevard.

Epic Universe was originally scheduled to open in 2023, but a new date has not been announced.