The main span of the footbridge over Newcastle Road has arrived at Jesmond and will be installed during a 13-hour operation on Saturday.
The 34-metre long precast section, which weighs 44 tonnes, will be lifted into place by a 400-tonne crane.
Newcastle Road will be closed between Croudace Street and the Jesmond roundabout from 9pm Saturday until 10am Sunday.
Transport for NSW Hunter director Anna Zycki said the transportation of the span from Wodonga where it was made, and the lift itself, had been months in planning.
"The actual lift will only take about two hours to complete, but we will need to start implementing detours early in the evening," she said.
"The lift itself is very short, but the preparation and making sure we get it right is complex."
Traffic will be diverted through University Drive during the 13-hour period.
The $15 million project has helped create 45 full-time jobs and provided work for 62 contractors. The bridge will open early next year.
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