Construction begins on Adelaide's new $3.2 billion hospital

Construction has officially commenced on South Australia's new Women's and Children's Hospital in a significant milestone for the state's healthcare system.

The SA government today also unveiled an updated design that is being proposed for the hospital's exterior, with the community invited to provide feedback.

"This is a big project - it's in excess of $3 billion of taxpayers' money and we want to make sure we're getting it right," Premier Peter Malinauskas said.

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The first sod of soil was turned as work began on the hospital's 1300-space carpark.

The project will cost taxpayers $3.2 billion - if it runs on time.

Potential delays are estimated to incur additional costs of $10 million per month, as revealed by parliamentary documents.

The Premier admitted there could be challenges in sticking to the timeline.

"Anyone who has renovated a kitchen or a bathrom know it never goes perfectly.. Well times that by a billion and you start to get the complexity in a project in this size and scale," he said.

The new hospital is projected to be completed by 2031.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.