The new Intensive Care Unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital is starting to take shape.
The expansion of the ICU, which will serve patients across the region, is on track for completion in mid-2016 as Interior Health updated the Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors last Friday morning.
Todd Mastel, director, business support of IHA, provided the update.
"We have the roof slab completed on the building structure and a lot of the scaffolding and support infrastructure has now been removed, so from the street view, you can get a better sense of what the final product will look like," he said.
In addition to the roof, masonry and steelwork has started as well as construction of walls and interior partitions.
"In the next few days, we'll be working on putting a roof membrane, the masonry as well as other interior supports to get to a lockup stage before Christmas, is what our schedule is looking like, so then in the new year, we can start some interior work," Mastel added.
Along with the ICU expansion, the project is updating the electrical system through the hospital and that stage currently includes preparation for foundations for the new emergency generators and other mechanical and electrical equipment.
Moving forward, there could be traffic interruptions during construction, but IH is working with the project contractor to minimize any potential impacts.
The $20 million project is part of a EKRH redevelopment project with funding from the province, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District, and East Kootenay Foundation for Health.
It will replace the current four-bed unit and feature two more high-acuity beds, with a 8,470 square-feet addition to the northeast side of the hospital.
The former ICU location will be vacated, which is in the planning stages of turning into a paediatric space.
The electrical upgrades will improve power supply to the entire hospital and allow capacity to expand for future power needs.