Leaders share progress report on Louisville's new VA hospital as construction continues

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Officials have released a progress report on Louisville's new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital.

Officials said the medical center is nearly fully enclosed as crews continue working on the new campus.

This month, crews are expected to start work on the foundations for perimeter fencing on the south side of the campus and grading for parking lots.

Work is also ongoing on the guard house, as well as interior framing, drywall and painting.

Additionally, the following work will take place in the coming week, according to an update from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:

Energizing of the chillers in the Central Utility Plant is scheduled to start in the next few weeks.
Site grading in preparation for paving is taking place in the south end of the construction site.
Foundations for the laundry facility on the west side of the medical center continues.
Work continues on the water tank next to the water tower.
Work continues on the guard house near the entrance of the construction site.
Interior framing and utility rough is taking place in the East and West Bars of the medical facility.
Drywall, insulation and painting are ongoing in the West Bar of the medical facility.
Work on the loading dock and laundry facility on the west side of the medical facility continues.
Utilities and equipment installation at the Central Utility Plant continues, as well as exterior masonry.
Utility and elevator installation continue in the North and South Parking Structures.

Crews broke ground on the hospital in 2021 near U.S. 42 and Brownsboro Road. When the $840 million project is completed, there will be more than 100 beds and 2,000 parking spaces.

When the hospital is completed, it will be able to care for around 45,000 veterans in the Louisville area and include a Women's Health Clinic, utility plant and parking structures. It will be more than 910,000 square feet in addition to parking structures and 42,205-square-foot central utility plant. It will also employ hundreds of health care workers.

Construction on the hospital is expected to be wrapped up next summer.

The project has been 15 years in the making, delayed by wrangling over its location and its funding. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and former Congressman John Yarmuth, D-Louisville, helped secure the funding for the new hospital over the course of four presidents. Construction was also delayed by opposition from some nearby residents who fought unsuccessfully in court.

The new location on Brownsboro Road in east Louisville will replace the aging medical center on Zorn Avenue, off River Road.

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