MONCTON (GNB) – A new $10.5 million breast health centre will open later this year at the Dr. Georges-L. Dumont University Hospital, while construction of new surgical suite, a project estimated at $104 million, will be starting in the spring.

“New Brunswick's health-care system must provide services that are sustainable, safe and of the highest quality,” said Health Minister Hugh Flemming. “The surgical suite project will bring it up to modern standards and address space shortages at the hospital.”

The project includes $14 million in new equipment for the addition.

“I am proud to see this work in progress,” said Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Claude Williams. “A lot of work has been done on both projects at this point, and both will provide patients, families and hospital staff with spacious, comfortable and state-of-the art facilities. As a result, patient service delivery and the work environment for hospital staff will be improved.”

The 9,900 sq. metre (110,000 sq. feet) facility requires building an extension on the north side of the hospital and includes 2,160 sq. metres (24,000 sq. feet) of renovated space. The demolition of the former Vanier School will also make room for a new parking lot which is being created to compensate for lost parking space where the new surgical suite addition will be built.

Foulem Construction Ltd. of Caraquet has been awarded the contract to build the new parking lot. The contract includes site development work, underground site services such as sanitary and storm sewer drainage and water supply. This site development work is expected to be completed in January 2015. The provincial government is investing $13 million into this part of the project in 2014-15. The entire surgical suite project is expected to be completed in 2019.

Construction of the 666 sq. metre (7,400 sq. feet) breast health centre began last fall and is expected to open in October of this year. Bird Construction Ltd. of Saint John is the general contractor. Renovations are being carried out in existing space which once housed the hospital's boiler plant. Construction of the breast health centre is 65 per cent complete.

Architects 4 of Moncton is the architect for both projects.


02-06-14