SOUTH JERSEY

Inspira contracts with hospital builder

Carly Q. Romalino
@CarlyQRomalino
Inspira Health Network's rendering of a proposed hospital in Harrison Township at Routes 322 and 55 near Rowan University.

HARRISON TWP. -  A New York firm would build a hospital near Rowan University, if plans for the medical center are approved by the state.

Skanska USA signed a contract with Inspira Health Network to build a $350 million, 240-bed medical center near Exit 50 of Route 55 in Harrison Township. Pending state approval, construction could begin the first quarter of 2017 and finish December 2019, Skanska reported.

MORE on the hospital: Rowan-Inspira seal the deal

The South Jersey medical center is Skanska's second major hospital contract announcement in the Delaware Valley this quarter, the company reported. Last month it announced it will build the Women and Children's Health Building for Christiana Care Health System in Delaware.

Inspira Health Network is likely to officially own 100 acres in Harrison Township by April for a proposed $350 million medical center.

The main tower of the five-story hospital would house operating rooms, an emergency department, imaging suites, and administrative, dining and support services, Skanska reported.

The project — to be built on land purchased for $11.5 million from Rowan University — also includes a new central utility plant providing electricity, heating and hot water and chilled water to the hospital, according to Skanska.

Inspira bought the 100-acre plot from the university earlier this year.

A new hospital means Inspira's facility in Woodbury — formerly Underwood-Memorial Hospital — will scale back its services, whittling its staff of 1,600 back to 500. An emergency room is expected to remain at the Red Bank Avenue site.

MORE on Inspira-Woodbury: Woodbury officials 'wanted to play hardball' with Inspira

Last year, Inspira spokesman Greg Potter told the Courier-Post the hospital system would study how to continue to serve Woodbury.

But a year ago Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney warned the hospital system not to leave Woodbury in the same condition it left Bridgeton in 2004, when Inspira — then South Jersey Healthcare — opened the Regional Medical Center in Vineland. The Bridgeton facility's services were drastically cut.

Carly Q. Romalino; (856) 486-2476; cromalino@gannettnj.com