After over 12 years of planning, construction has officially begun on the new Fancsy Family Hospital.
Premier Doug Ford visited the region Thursday for the ground-turning ceremony, most of which had to be held inside at the Ciociaro Club due to poor air quality from wildfires in Northern Ontario.
Despite the smoke, Kristin Kennedy, President and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, said it was a great day.
"It validates and confirms some of the skepticism around if this would ever start, and today's a testament to that, and it doesn't stop until we're done," said Kennedy.
This is the beginning of phase one of the three-phase hospital construction.
"There are moments in a community, in every community, that become a defining part of its history. Moments that future generations look back and they recognize as turning points, and today is one of those moments," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
Phase One includes a three-storey education and administrative centre, a 700-space parking garage, and critical site infrastructure.
Construction will begin in the northwest portion of the property and will continue east and south until the entire project is completed.
"We'll start with trailers, fencing, getting the logistics and gates and access in place, but then immediately will follow excavation, and we'll start building foundations, below-grade plumbing, and go on from there," said Brandon Bailey, VP of hospital redevelopment.
This phase is expected to take three years. Planning for phase two is already underway and will happen concurrently.
A timeline for the entire project has not been finalized.
"Phase One is three years; I think it's relatively safe to say probably not until 2033. But, again, there will be phases of the project where we'll be able to move in and work from here and potentially have three campuses for an interim period of time," said Kennedy.
In 2014, the project was expected to cost upwards of $2-billion. An estimate for the project has not been updated since then.
"It started way down here, but it's right through the roof right now," said Ford. "Honestly, I'm always conscious; I'm a prudent fiscal manager, but we'll spend what it takes, and we'll be prudent about it no matter what it takes; we're building this hospital."
An updated figure is expected with the fall economic statement.
