Construction has started on the much-anticipated expansion to Turlock’s Monte Vista Crossings.

The 108,907 square-foot expansion of Monte Vista Crossings is sited just south of Kohl's and the Olive Garden, in the square of land bordered by Highway 99, Countryside Drive, and Tuolumne Road.

In addition to two anchor stores, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft, the development has been confirmed to include the following: a Tilly’s surf and skate apparel store; a Kirkland’s home décor store; a Maurice’s women’s clothing shop; a Justice and Brothers tween apparel location; and, a factory-owned Sprint cellphone shop. The development will also include six currently unidentified stores and a restaurant.

Several large construction trucks can now be seen on the site of the development. A temporary gravel construction driveway has also been built, just south of the Olive Garden.

Hall Equities Group, the developer responsible for Monte Vista Crossings, had originally planned to break ground on Feb. 15. That date was missed, but only barely so.

Erin Bell, Director of Corporate Communications for Hall Equities Group, confirmed Monday that work began at “the beginning of March.”

“We are anticipating to complete construction by the fourth quarter, 2014,” Bell said.

Bell’s timeline matches up with one offered by Maryn Pitt, Assistant to the Turlock City Manager for Housing and Economic Development, in February. Pitt said that Hall Equities Group committed to provide pads for the two anchor stores by April.

“It will all be open before Christmas,” Pitt said. “It’s a pretty fast schedule.”