HAMILTON - St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton announced today site work has begun at its West 5th Campus in preparation for the main redevelopment construction project.
“We're excited to see the first signs of construction appear at the West 5th Campus,” said Dr. David Higgins, President, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. “This wonderful new facility with its innovative programs will signal the importance of mental health in our society and will dispel the stigma which, for too long, has hindered the care of those affected. Our goal throughout this project has been to create a world-class healthcare facility in Hamilton that will offer excellence in patient-centred care and treatment. With this first sign of activity, we are one step closer to that goal.”
The site preparation work, also known as enabling works, is required to maintain essential services to the existing West 5th Campus buildings during the new hospital's construction. The enabling works project includes:
- rerouting the water supply, sanitary and storm sewers, gas and electric services
- rerouting telephone and communications cabling
- construction of a temporary parking lot to accommodate existing parking spaces which will be lost during the main construction project
- renovations and upgrades to the Beckfield building
The site preparation work will be completed by fall 2010.
“It's great to see the work underway and know that we're another step closer to providing improved treatment for people struggling with mental illness and addiction,” said the Hon. Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP for Hamilton Mountain.
The main redevelopment project on the West 5th site will include the construction of approximately 800,000 square feet of new space. The new facility will increase in-patient bed capacity from 214 to 305, and allow for an increase in all associated support services.
Once completed, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th Campus will provide state-of-theart facilities in order to better support people and families struggling with mental illness and addiction. The hospital will also include expanded outpatient clinics for psychiatry, diagnostic imaging and medical services and innovative research and academic spaces.
Construction of the new campus is expected to begin in early 2011.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton to develop the new campus, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.
Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca and www.stjoes.ca for more information.
Contacts:
Debbie Silva
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
905-522-1155, Ext. 33037
Terence Foran
Infrastructure Ontario
416 325-2939
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