Construction crews are working hard to complete ongoing construction projects at the Mid-Michigan Medical Center-Alpena, Alpena Community College, and on the Bagley Street Bridge.

Hiccups can accompany major projects, but so far major issues have been avoided.

MIDMICHIGAN MEDICAL CENTER-ALPENA

The largest of the projects is the expansion of the MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena. A new patient tower is being built, with a price tag of $63.5 million.

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The $8.7 million renovation to Van Lare Hall at Alpena Community College is nearly complete. College President Don MacMaster said there is a touch more work to do to the exterior and the project will be done. Nursing students, staff, and administrators are already utilizing the facility.

The tower will house 60 new private patient rooms, including eight intensive care unit beds, eight labor and delivery rooms, and 44 medical/surgical/telemetry beds. The new tower will also include 19 prep and recovery rooms, flex rooms, as well as five new operating rooms. Once complete, many areas in the existing medical center will be renovated.

In a press release, the Hospital President Chuck Sherwin said the project, which is supposed to be completed next spring, is on schedule and within budget. Since breaking ground in July 2020, the external portion of the project is nearing completion and internal work is ramping up towards a grand opening.

Sherwin said the construction is going well, but is having an impact on the original portion of the hospital and staff, patients, and visitors.

“We are all so happy to see the progress of the new patient tower taking shape, but with all major projects, there comes some growing pains, too,” Sherwin said in the press release. “Right now, ceiling work is impacting our gift shop and our registration area has been moved to accommodate changes to our existing lobby. As a result, foot traffic for patients, visitors and staff is being rerouted. While only a temporary disruption, these renovations are all in motion to make way for our beautiful patient tower that will open in a few short months.”

BAGLEY STREET BRIDGE

News Photo by Steve Schulwitz The exterior of the new tower being built at MidMichigan Medical Center-Alpena continues to come to life. When completed in the spring, the final investment into the facility will be more than $63 million.

Another project residents are eager to see completed is the reconstruction of the Bagley Street Bridge. The construction began in February, and it is anticipated traffic can begin utilizing it again on Nov. 14 with final completion of the bridge slated for Dec. 20.

The cost of the project is in the ballpark of $10.3 million and will completely revamp the old bridge, which was built in the 1970s.

The bridge will widen from 37 feet to 79 feet, which will allow for smoother traffic flow. On one side of the bridge, there will be a shared-use sidewalk that will be 14 feet wide. A pedestrian sidewalk on the opposite side will be eight feet wide.

There will also be a trio of pullouts where people can look over the side of the bridge and take in the scenery of the Thunder Bay River.

Funding for the project came from state and federal grants, along with the needed matching money from the road commission.

Alpena County Road Commission Managing Director Ryan Brege said every day there is progress on the project. Brege said contractors are able to work on several things at once, however, so when an issue creeps up, it typically doesn’t stall the project too much.

“We are chugging right along,” he said. “The contractors are now beginning to work on the bridge deck. With a project like this there is no real predictor when things will be done fully, but right now we are right on schedule.”

VAN LARE HALL

The renovation and redesign of Van Lare Hall at Alpena Community College began in the fall of 2019 and is already in use. College President Don MacMaster said there are only a few cosmetic tasks to complete on the exterior and then the $8.7 million job is wrapped up.

MacMaster said students in the nursing program are in class in the new facility and staff and administrators are also settling in.

Besides the addition of the new nursing center, the renovation plan includes updates to existing restrooms, the fire suppression and HVAC systems, including high efficiency hot water boilers and air conditioning.

The exterior concrete masonry will receive a new permeable stain to enhance the visual appeal of the building. Entry doors will also be replaced with energy-efficient units, including new hardware and security management devices.

The remodeled Van Lare Hall will include the addition of a 2,188 square foot student and community space overlooking the Thunder Bay River. This space will seat approximately 125 people and will be welcoming to students looking for a comfortable place to study, as well as provide a technology-equipped space for small group meetings or presentations. The remodeled building will also house seven multipurpose classrooms, a new admissions office area and administrative offices.

“Except for a few exterior finishes, Alpena Community College’s $8.7 million Van Lare Renovation project is complete and open for business.,” MacMaster said. “We are delighted with the end product and we look forward to showing it to the community through an upcoming open house on October 9.”