A crowd of dignitaries, residents and employees gathered around Tuesday afternoon for a ceremony for the groundbreaking of an addition at Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein.


Guest speakers and others were on hand to help turn some soil on the southeast side of the hospital, where a construction company will be building a 5,000 square foot expansion.

Work on the addition is located in a busy area of the hospital, but it should not interrupt regular business.

Photo by Roger King
Photo by Roger King
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Although the groundbreaking was held just yesterday (Tuesday), work has already begun.  Larson Construction of Independence is the general contractor.

It will take about 18 months while before it's finished.

It is an expensive endeavor, but Mercy has it covered; the $1.5 million expansion will include a larger emergency department, patient registration area, and laboratory, along with more privacy for registering patients; plus the emergency entrance will be climate controlled.

Following remarks by guest speakers, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place.

 

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