The new Flin Flon General Hospital emergency department is about a month behind schedule, adding an undetermined cost to the project’s budget.
Twyla Storey, communications coordinator for the Northern Health Region (NHR), said the delay stems from unforeseen
site conditions.
“As with any large project, there are always hiccups which surface themselves, but this project’s hiccup that stands out is the unforeseen condition of bedrock, which could not be built upon in a few key areas of the building site,” she said.
Storey said this challenge was addressed through a structural redesign and the use of shotcrete concrete to create a stable structural point.
She said Manitoba Health has been aware of these issues, as delays and added expenses are not unusual in projects as large as the emergency department.
The size of the cost overrun is unknown. Storey said it would be speculative to provide a figure at this time.
The present construction schedule has staff being able to move into the emergency department at the end of March 2018.
The provincially funded emergency department upgrade has been a boon to the local economy.
Storey said the project has created at least 12 full-time positions with Fresh Projects, the general contractor hired to build the facility. The project has also created six spinoff positions with the sub trades on site, she said. In addition, Fresh has engaged 12 local businesses, including suppliers and retailers, to the tune of $2.5 million, Storey said.
Private fundraising is mandated to cover at least 10 per cent of the total project cost.
Storey said about $605,000 must still be raised, adding it is anticipated this amount will be in place by the opening date of the emergency department.
The total cost of the emergency department was last reported at $25.2 million.
