Construction of the North Shore casino is set to go after the group headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm closed on more than $550 million in financing this morning.

Some workers are expected to be back at the casino site, where work has been suspended since June 30, as early as today, said Dan Fee, a spokesman for Pittsburgh Gaming Holdings. Mr. Fee said full construction should resume by the end of the week.

"With the closing of the financing, we are excited to re-start construction immediately and build and operate a world-class facility of which Pittsburghers can be proud," said Greg Carlin, Pittsburgh Gaming chief executive officer.

Mr. Bluhm's group received approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday to take over the project from Detroit developer Don Barden, who was unable to secure permanent financing for the casino and defaulted on a $200 million bridge loan.

The new ownership group will be investing more than $200 million of its own money in the $780 million riverfront project. Another $405 million will be provided by a syndicate of lenders led by Credit Suisse. Another $150 million will come from a syndicate headed by KeyBank of Detroit and guaranteed by two Detroit pension funds.

Mr. Bluhm will honor the commitments Mr. Barden made to fund the replacement for Mellon Arena at $7.5 million a year for 30 years and to provide $3 million each to the Hill District and the Northside Leadership Conference for redevelopment and neighborhood initiatives.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.