Earlier today, Riot Ahab posted an update on the North America server roadmap, specifically relating to the South Bridge. As far as the hardware goes, Phase 2 is almost complete, meaning that Riot is almost done bringing the hardware online at key internet exchanges. However, that doesn't mean the entire process is almost done; finalizing everything, and working with all of the necessary internet providers is still a huge step.

For anyone interested in the details about this phase of the project, I strongly suggest you check out the link above. However, a large percentage of players seem most interested in Phase 3: centralized servers! For those of us who have to play on the East coast (and suffer with ping 130 and higher), this is a HUGE part of the project. Being closer to the server can mean lower ping, and along with the rest of this project, possibly less packet loss as well, which as just as important, if not more so. Fortunately, it seems we may not have to wait too much longer, as Ahab confirmed that the centralized servers will be online some time this year, posting in the comments on both the official message boards and Reddit. His Reddit comment:

Totally understand Phase 3 is the prize almost everyone has their eyes on. My apologies for not getting a concrete date for you all; we're trying to make sure it's a promise we can deliver on since our track record in the past hasn't been great.

I CAN say, however, that Phase 3 (a centralized server move) will happen this year.

The next update you see from me and the NA Server Roadmap team will contain more concrete information, dates, and projected impact of Phase 3.

While the RiotSoon calendar may seem like it operates off of the Plutonian scale, this particular project should see completion by end of THIS calendar year.