Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
For the original story, visit ABC-10.
MARQUETTE — The future of healthcare in the U.P. took a big step in the right direction Thursday, as officials with Duke LifePoint Healthcare broke ground on the new hospital site in Marquette.
“It is such an exciting commitment for us. When we started this, we didn’t think that building a new hospital is where we’d end up,” said David Dill, President & Chief Operating Officer of LifePoint Health.
“But after a lot of planning, we felt the best thing to do was to bring a new facility into Marquette.”
Baraga Avenue will look a little different 28 to 30 months from now. Officials with LifePoint Health, UP Health System Marquette and the City of Marquette attended Thursday’s groundbreaking.
Construction crews will begin creating the 500,000 square foot facility in a few days.
“During peak construction there will be 500 workers on this site,” said Trent Crable, CEO of UP Health System – Marquette.
“It’s outstanding for the community in many different ways other than just the advancement in health care.”
The hospital is expected to cost $300 million. Each patient at the new facility will have their own private room.
“We really think this is going to be a boost for the economy and be able to provide additional jobs not only in construction but in health care as well,” said Crable. ”
Located on the former Roundhouse property, the facility will be right off of US-41 and one mile from Northern Michigan University. The hospital will be the ‘healthcare hub’ for the U.P.
“A lot of people choose to be here,” said Judy Watson-Olson, UP Health System Board of Trustees member. “If health care can be high quality and close to home just like we’ve been talking about, that makes the community even more special.”
“With the re-vamp of this portion of town, we will also see a ripple effect through Downtown Marquette and this area,” said Marquette Mayor Pro Term Sarah Reynolds. “This project is truly a win-win for the city.”
The hospital is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.
