$10 Million Credit Line Advances St. Mary’s New Interchange
SSM Health Care has signed and delivered a performance notice and a $10 million letter of credit to the Missouri Department of Transportation, ensuring a financial commitment to a new Highway 179 interchange near the new St. Mary’s Health Center.
That step means MoDOT can finalize the design phase of the interchange, which includes public review and comment. Once the interchange is completed on Highway 179 between West Edgewood Drive and Route C, it will open the door for construction to begin next year on a new St. Mary’s.
The $200 million hospital is being designed to create the optimal healing environment on the 110-acre site. Completion of the new health center is slated for late 2014.
“The design of the hospital has been steadily moving forward, and we will be excited to see it take shape at the new site,” says hospital president Brent VanConia. “The progress on the highway interchange is a significant milestone in the journey.”
The highway interchange has been a community partnership, with participation from the City of Jefferson and Cole County in developing roadways connecting to the hospital campus. The interchange also opens the opportunity for other development along the highway.
“The city, the county, MoDOT -- these have all been tremendous partners on this project,” VanConia says. “We could not do this without their support.”
County officials say they see many benefits from the new project.
“I’m glad to see this big step go forward,” said Cole County Presiding Commissioner Marc Ellinger. “It opens up a whole area for economic development along the Highway 179 corridor.”
Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr added: “St. Mary’s gave the community a wonderful gift 100 years ago when the sisters arrived and cared for the sick and infirm. This new project is another gift of the same magnitude. It will endure long into the future.”
The final step — awarding the interchange construction bid — is expected to occur this spring, after the April Highway Commission meeting and SSM’s final notice to release. Construction documents for the new hospital will be completed later this year, with the hospital construction contract awarded in 2012.