FLORENCE-Wednesday, November 2, 2016 is the day; the day ground will be broken and the construction begins on the area’s new regional hospital, North Alabama Medical Center. “We have walked the site and selected a level area to hold this event,” said ECM Chief Executive Officer, Russell Pigg. “It is my personal goal to have the new, 280-bed facility ready for occupancy before the end of 2018.” The new facility will feature large, all private, patient rooms. It will also conveniently house surgical, interventional and diagnostic services adjacently on the first floor of the hospital.
Representatives from the city, county, local community, facility designers and contractors will participate in the symbolic event which signals the start of the $250 million dollar project. Alabama Governor, Robert Bentley is also making plans to attend. “We will begin moving construction trailers and several pieces of equipment to the site next week,” said Layton Construction project executive, Jason Adams. Layton, a national commercial contractor with offices in nine U.S. cities, was recently announced as the builder for the new Shoals facility.
“While some invitations are being mailed, anyone from the community is invited to attend,” said ECM Communications Director, Tom Whetstone. “We realize the significance of this project to the entire area and look forward to seeing a large crowd at the event,” added Whetstone.
The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. on November 2. A large tent just to the left of the property entrance at the traffic light on Veterans Drive and Helton will be the spot for the ground-breaking program. The hospital is being constructed on a 25-acre site facing Veteran’s Drive that includes the 1600, 1700 and 1800 blocks facing Veterans. Hospital officials have proposed that the new facility’s address be 1701 Veterans, which leaves property space on both sides of the hospital for future growth and development.
Media Release/Melissa Watkins
Communications Director
Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital
