TEXARKANA, Texas -- Both Texarkana's hospital expansions are at a construction standstill.
In May 2021, Wadley Regional Medical Center's president Tom Gilbert announced a new campus at West Park Boulevard would be opened by May 2024. However, there are no signs of construction progress at the site.
"We are in the process of rebidding this multimillion dollar project," said Director of Marketing and Planning Shelby Brown. "The commitment remains to build a replacement hospital for Wadley Regional Medical Center on West Park Boulevard. As with any large project like this, there continues to be work behind the scenes, and we will have ongoing updates."
Upon completion, the medical center is to offer the full range of hospital services, including a 24/7 emergency room, orthopedics department, cardiovascular wing, neurosurgery services, maternity care and a number of outpatient services. The hospital will have 123 beds, with the ability to expand up to 291 beds.
According to Steward North America, the company that owns Wadley hospital, the building's construction paired with new employment by the hospital is expected to bring $408 million to the Texarkana area.
CHRISTUS St. Michael announced in January that a new campus would be built at Gibson Lane and Arista Boulevard, with a projected opening date in 2023. Similar to its counterpart nearby, there are no signs of construction at the worksite.
Director of Marketing Francine Francis said the construction design is a work in progress and that there will be ongoing updates.
Plans call for the campus to have emergency services, inpatient beds, imaging, therapy services and other clinical services. There also will be office space for medical specialists.
Jason Adams, president of the CHRISTUS system, at the time of the announcement said the new campus would bring 100 jobs to the community of Texarkana.
A photo of the construction site of the future Wadley Regional Medical Center taken Sept. 7, 2021, on West Park Boulevard in Texarkana, Texas. (Gazette file photo)
An artistic rendering of the interior lobby of the new Wadley Regional Medical Center. (Submitted artwork)