The holidays are just around the corner and we probably all need a little break.

We wanted to share with you that work on the Mills Memorial Hospital construction site will slow down between December 22 and January 2. Fewer workers and less activity will be happening on site.

Hope you stay active and healthy this holiday season! Check out a video of Spirit, Northern Health's mascot, for some fun ideas.

We understand the parking situation at Mills Memorial Hospital is frustrating right now - for staff, physicians, patients and visitors. Not enough spots are available at certain times of the day. It’s probably taking more time to find a spot, and you likely have to walk a longer distance from your vehicle to the hospital than you’d like.

More parking spots are coming

We know insufficient parking has been a challenge at the hospital for a while, and the construction of the new hospital put more pressure on the situation.

Adequate parking for patients, visitors, staff and physicians was an important consideration of the new hospital design. Parking at the new hospital will be double what it was at the current hospital, increasing from 150 to 300 spots. (And yes! Parking will continue to be free.) The majority of those parking spots won’t be ready until the middle of 2026, however, when the project is complete.

Northern Health and PCL have come up with some creative solutions in the interim. We’ve maximized the use of the site by building temporary parking lots as space has become available. We are repainting the lines in the existing parking lots to maximize efficiency.

The reality of the situation, however, is that parking will remain a challenge until all new spots are in place and the project is complete. And during the winter months, the situation will be even more challenging as street parking is not allowed.

Recommendations

There’s no perfect solution. In the meantime, we ask you to consider:

• Arriving early
• Carpooling
• Getting dropped off and picked up (especially if you have mobility issues)

Thank you for your consideration and patience during this time!

Starting the morning of Saturday, November 11, as part of construction of the new Mills Memorial Hospital, PCL will be removing the single row of trees along Tetrault Street that start close to Haugland Avenue and end halfway to Keith Avenue.

While this work is taking place, the parking spots that line Tetrault Street, on the east side of the existing hospital’s adjacent parking lot, will be blocked off and unavailable.

The removal of the trees should take a maximum of two days, with the area being blocked off starting Friday night, November 10.

The trees will be removed during the regular construction working hours of 7am to 7pm.

The work is happening over the weekend to minimize impact on hospital parking, patients and staff. Appropriate safety precautions will be in place and the impact on neighbours and traffic should be minimal.

Removing these trees is part of the construction of the new hospital. A landscaping plan is in place for the entire site, with garden beds planned for this area.

Download a copy of the October 2023 Quarterly Project Update.

WHERE WE’RE AT

Recent milestones and activities

• In September, PCL achieved an impressive 1.5 million worker hours without a safety incident.
• Posters with project info and featured department floors plans were displayed for two weeks in the MMH basement and Skeena Mall in Terrace. Posters are also on Let’s Talk MMH.
• Majority of electrical panel installations are complete.
• Food services kitchen equipment was delivered and installed.
• Three of six elevators are complete and in use, with the final three expected to be done soon.
• 99% of the drywalling in the entire facility is complete.
• Site service road and new temporary parking lot in front of new Seven Sisters is now paved.
• Startups of major systems is ongoing – for example, air handling units, heat recovery chillers, heating boiler and the steam boiler.
• Infection control measures continue to be implemented on site - for example, boot cleaners at all entrances, daily cleaning of work areas, and use of HEPA filtered vacuums.

Inside progress photos

Food Services Level 0 (Basement)Laboratory Level 1 Cancer Care Level 1

Emergency Department Level 1Sample Washroom

WHERE WE’RE GOING

As the substantial completion dates for both the new Seven Sisters and the new Mills Memorial Hospital approach, the timelines for moving into the new facilities are becoming clearer.

What substantial completion means to us is that the building is complete, and Northern Health can occupy it. It does not mean the entire MMH Replacement Project is complete. The project, including parking and landscaping, is set to be complete in 2026.

• Substantial completion for the new Seven Sisters will occur in mid-January 2024. We anticipate moving into the new Seven Sisters in mid-February.
• Substantial completion for the new hospital is on track for September 19, 2024. We anticipate moving into the new hospital by the end of November.

In between the substantial completion and move in dates, staff and physicians will be oriented to the new buildings and prepare the new facilities for patient care. This includes ensuring all supplies are in place, and all systems and equipment are functioning properly, including those required to run the facility itself, and for patient care workflows and services.

Download a copy of the Emergency Department poster.

Department features

• On Level 1
• Designated entrance, waiting area and registration area (separate from main entrance, waiting, registration area)
• Significantly larger and more welcoming space
• More patient treatment spaces
• Patient spaces separated by walls (not curtains) improving privacy and infection control
• Digital and in person registration desks
• Washrooms and hand hygiene sinks throughout
• Enclosed, heated double bay ambulance garage
• Two team care stations with strategic sight lines that enhance patient care, and patient and staff safety

Rendering of Emergency entrance

Rendering of Emergency department hallway

Download a copy of the Emergency Department poster.

Northern Health worked with an interior design consultant to create a safe, welcoming and positive environment for staff, physicians, patients and visitors. Key considerations:

• Nature
• Northwest BC cultures
• Northwest BC communities
• Creation of calm, welcoming and comfortable environment
• Promotion of health, wellness and safety
• Department workflows and functions
• Health standards and infection control
• Long term maintenance, cost and availability of materials
• Prevention of triggers

The colour and materials palette applies to both the new hospital and the new Seven Sisters.

New staff parking lot should be ready in November.

Parking situation continues to evolve

The parking situation at Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace continues to evolve, as construction of the new hospital continues.

About a year ago, a temporary gravel parking lot for staff was built to the left of the existing hospital’s main entrance on Haugland Avenue. That lot is now closed temporarily, as the space is being used to facilitate construction of a larger lot to it’s left, directly south of the new Seven Sisters facility.

After the new parking lot south of Seven Sisters is paved, the gravel parking lot and its fencing will revert to how it was and once again be ready for staff use, by mid-October, weather permitting.

Construction work will continue on the new paved lot to make it safe for use (for example, lights will be installed). This new lot should be open for use by the end of November, also weather permitting, and provide approximately 18 new staff parking spots.

Parking challenges and solutions

We know parking at the hospital and Seven Sisters is challenging and has been for a while ─ for staff, patients and visitors.

When the Mills Memorial Hospital Replacement project is complete, in 2026, the new hospital will have about 300 parking spaces. This is double the number of parking spots the hospital started with at the beginning of the project in 2021.

And yes. Parking at the hospital will continue to be free!

The bulk of the parking spaces for the new facility will be where the existing hospital stands, and so won’t be available until after that facility is demolished and the new lot is built by mid-2026.

As the project advances, Northern Health will continue to work on creating parking solutions for staff and visitors while juggling building the new hospital and supporting operations at the existing one.

We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time.

Posters and project info on display is also online on Let's Talk MMH - as updates, and in the folder 'September 2023 MMH project display posters' under Documents, on the right side of the home page.

Got questions? Email: letstalkmmh@northernhealth.ca