Pending state approvals, groundbreaking for the new hospital is slated for the first quarter of 2017. Watch video
HARRISON TWP. -- Inspira Health Network's new $350 million hospital has a builder.
Skanska USA has signed a $200 million deal to build the five-story, 204-bed facility off Route 55 in Harrison Township.
Construction is slated to begin in early 2017, with completion by December 2019. The state must first approve Inspira's certificate of need application for the hospital.
The 350,000-square-foot facility will feature operating rooms, an emergency department, imaging services, along with administrative, dining and support services. A central utility plant will provide electricity, heating, hot water and chilled water, according to a release from New York-based Skanska USA.
Rowan University approved the sale of 100 acres to Inspira for the new hospital earlier this year.
During that process, Kennedy Health officials criticized the new location, saying it was too close to its own hospital 6 miles away in Washington Township and would result in an overlap of health services.
As part of Inspira's plan in Harrison Township, the company will close its Woodbury hospital. Inspira will maintain a presence in Woodbury, however, and vows to spend $7 million on improvements.
The Woodbury facility will house a satellite emergency department, observation beds, some outpatient services, including imaging, as well as office personnel handling billing and other office duties, Inspira officials said.
The Woodbury hospital currently employs 1,600 and will keep about 500 on-site once the new hospital opens.
The new hospital will employ 1,400, Inspira said.
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.