Construction of heliport to start in January

The Emergency Room entrance at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre. Photographed August 16, 2015. Sarah Anderson REPORTER.

The heliport for the Northern Lights Regional Hospital has a construction start date.

Alberta Health Services announced Thursday that construction will begin on the land at the back of the hospital on Mon. Jan. 8, 2018.

The platform will be elevated to be level with the main floor of the hospital, allowing close proximity to operating rooms and the emergency department.

Dr. Kevin Worry, Medical Director for the North Zone of Alberta Health Services says they’re very excited to see construction start.

“Having the heliport beside the health centre will improve access for patients who need critical care transport.” 

The project will allow helicopter patients to land directly at the hospital, rather than at the Fort McMurray airport, then taken by ground ambulance to the health centre.

Until construction is complete late next year, patients will continue to be transported from the airport to the hospital.

A temporary work zone has been set up near the hospital and the Dr. Clark & Father Turcotte School to ensure contractors have access to build the structure and store construction equipment and materials.

Public parking and access to the facility will not be affected by construction.