SAULT STE. MARIE -- Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development toured major construction currently underway at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie..
An overhead walkway and new south entrance to the hospital are currently under construction and will ultimately connect the main hospital with a medical office building and parking structure.
The USDA has assisted this expansion effort by providing direct loans in the amount of $1.7 million and loan guarantees in the amount of $2.5 million, with additional funding for other WMH construction slated to begin summer.
Hospital officials and other local leaders welcomed Rural Development State Director James J. Turner, Area Specialist Jim Yoder, and Area Director Don Gerrie. Joining the progress update and tour were Amy Berglund, regional representative for Senator Carl Levin, and Jeremy Hosking, U.P. regional manager for Senator Debbie Stabenow.
The walkway, a pedestrian bridge over Osborn Boulevard, is expected to be complete in June and the newly-constructed south entrance will be finished in September. This summer will also see the start of major expansion to the hospital’s emergency room, according to War Memorial Hospital CEO David Jahn.
