News

Contact: Sarah Bello

Construction to start next week to prepare the building site

ASTORIA, Ore. — Coming soon — the BuildCMH Expansion Project. Work will begin to prepare the construction site next week. Starting the initial site work is a major milestone for the expansion, which will take Columbia Memorial Hospital from around 56,000 square feet to 182,000 square feet.

This work will start a period of construction around the hospital campus, beginning with the demolition of a few buildings. Patients and those coming to the Astoria campus are encouraged to plan extra time in case they encounter construction work along the way.

Some of the initial work includes patient experience upgrades, such as burying power lines for an improved view of the Columbia River. This will benefit patients when they are housed on the upper floors of the expanded hospital, as well as patients on the second floor of the CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative.

“What a journey it has been to prepare for this next era in health care on the coast,” says Erik Thorsen, CEO. “Thank you and congratulations to those who have helped us get this far on the project!”

Here’s what else the community can expect with the initial site work:

• Certain buildings on campus will be demolished to make way for new employee parking areas and a temporary helipad.
• The gravel employee parking lot will be closed beginning September 3 for heavy equipment storage, material storage and general construction use. It will remain closed for the duration of the project.
• The Cancer Center driveway entrance at 19th and Exchange will be closed for one week (date TBD) to complete utility work. Signage will be in place to direct patients to get to the parking lot via Franklin. Ambulances and the mobile PET/CT unit will still be able to access the Cancer Center.
• A water main will be relocated, resulting in short, separate closures of 19th St., 20th St. and 22nd St. (dates TBD; patients will still be able to access parking, although some street parking along Exchange will be blocked for periods of time).

Patients will be notified of this work as needed with signs and flyers. Please note any new signage for traffic control and fenced utility work areas, and do not park in blocked off areas.

Find more information and news updates about the BuildCMH Expansion Project at columbiamemorial.org/buildcmh.