Interior Health has announced that the expansion of Fischer Place/Mill Site Lodge is going ahead with a call for tenders issued June 26.

The 29-bed residential care expansion was originally scheduled for 2007 but calls for tender for significant components of the project went unanswered, primarily due to peak market conditions.

Interior Health reviewed the drawings and costing to address the time lapse and recently received a building permit from the District of 100 Mile House.

Construction is expected to start in early August with the opening one year later.

“The call for tenders is an important milestone in the expansion of residential care in 100 Mile House,” said Kevin Falcon, Health Services minister.

The plan is to build room for 29 beds, with 14 of them opened at project completion and the other 15 held for future use.

“The expansion of Fischer Place/Mill Site Lodge is a much-anticipated project for our community and will help provide for the needs of seniors in years to come,” said Donna Barnett,Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA. “I look forward to getting shovels in the ground.”

Mitch Campsall, District of 100 Mile House mayor, said this is great news.

“I realize the last time there weren’t enough bids but now more people are looking for work so this will not only be great for the community but will create employment as well,” he said.

Campsall said it’s exciting for the community and shows that we’re growing.

Funding for the $7.2 million addition is being shared 60 per cent by the Province of BC through Interior Health and 40 per cent by the Cariboo-Chilcotin Regional Hospital District.

Yellowridge Construction Ltd. will oversee the construction and commissioning of the project after they were awarded the management contract in 2007.