A groundbreaking for the new Wadley Regional Medical Center is planned for 11 a.m. Wednesday on West Park Boulevard.
The roadway will be closed from 2 p.m. Tuesday to 2 p.m. Wednesday for to accommodate traffic for the medical center's groundbreaking.
This is the city's largest commercial development project in its history, according to city officials.
The new hospital will be located at the intersection of West Park Boulevard and University Avenue behind Lafferty's Home Center.
The new $227 million-facility is scheduled to open in May 2024. It will feature a medical office building and a full range of hospital services, including a 24/7 emergency room, orthopedics, cardiovascular area, neurosurgery, maternity care and a number of outpatient services. The hospital will have 123 beds with the ability to expand to 291.
Those who will be in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremonies include: Dr. Ralph de la Torre, founder, chairman and CEO of Steward Health Care; Dr. Sanjay Shetty, president of North America Steward Health Care; Tom Gilbert, Wadley Regional Medical Center president; Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman and Texarkana, Arkansas, Mayor Allen Brown.
This state-of-the-art medical center will be the largest commercial development in the history of our market, as well as the greatest single investment in a project in Texarkana, according to Richard H. Reynolds Jr., president of Reynolds Realty Management Inc.
"On behalf of the Waggoner Creek Crossing Partners and Ray Walsh Properties, Reynolds Realty Management, Inc. enthusiastically welcomes Steward Healthcare's development of Wadley Regional Medical Center to the Waggoner Creek development, located at University Avenue and Interstate 30," a statement from Reynolds reads.
Construction is expected to take about 32 months, pending weather issues.
Wadley's current location at 1000 Pine St. will remain fully operational while construction is underway.
Wadley Regional Medical Center purchased 55 acres north of Interstate 30 about five years ago.
Wadley has served the Texarkana area for about 120 years and has been at the Pine Street location since the late 1950s.