Work continues on Dawson Creek and District Hospital replacement project

DAWSON CREEK, B.C. — Work continues on the Dawson Creek and District Hospital replacement project following the holidays.

In July 2023, a group of members from the Dawson Creek Hospital, the Northern Health Board and the city broke ground at the new hospital’s location, and since then, strides have been made in construction.

In September, the excavation was completed, and the concrete pouring began before winter preparations were made on the project in November, which included installing insulated tarps and thawing machines.

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced in June that Graham Design Builders would design and build the new facility in coordination with Northern Health and Infrastructure BC.

According to Dave Corcoran, vice president of healthcare for Graham Design Builders, Infracon, a construction company with an office in Dawson Creek, completed the excavation work.

“We emphasize hiring local wherever we can, whether that’s individuals or companies,” Corcoran said.

He said they prequalify subcontractors, so if they expressed an interest in the project, Graham Design Builders would ensure they’re financially and technically capable of doing the work, and then they go to a tendering process.

Corcoran said the City of Dawson Creek has also been very supportive, working closely with Graham Design Builders to ensure they get the proper permits when needed and have assisted with road closures or access to fire hydrants for water.

The company has awarded contracts for what they need for the early phases of the project, but a few more won’t be tendered until the hospital’s design is nearly complete, which is expected in the spring.

“This is a design-build project, so we design the project as we are doing the construction,” Corcoran explained.

“So we have the design complete on the structure itself, but all of the interior details haven’t been finalized yet.”

Corcoran said the company is working closely with Northern Health to make sure the interior design is what they need.

At the end of November, a second 41-metre-tall tower crane was installed at the location to assist with construction. The first tower crane was put in place at the beginning of October and is 50 metres tall.

The approximately $590 million hospital is expected to be finished construction in the fall of 2026 and will begin accepting new patients by 2027.

The new facility will be approximately 24,500 square metres and have 70 beds, 24 more than the current hospital in Dawson Creek.

For the latest updates on the Dawson Creek and District Hospital Replacement, visit Northern Health’s Let’s Talk page.