Project updates
Construction of the new Critical Services Building has commenced, with completion due in 2024.
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Critical Services Building
A ground breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction of the centrepiece of the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project was held in November 2021.
Watch how the building will come to life in the below construction animation.
The facility is being delivered by a local workforce, with nearly all trades persons currently on the site local to the ACT region while 82% of the sub-contractors engaged to date are local ACT entities.
This project has already created 11 new trainee, apprentice and graduate positions on site and is working to upskill an additional 20 more job seekers as construction on the project ramps up.
Hospital campus improvements
To facilitate the construction of the new critical health care facility, a series of projects (referred to as enabling works) have now been completed. These projects will ensure that vital health services for the Canberra community are not disrupted during the building of the new facility.
The enabling works involved the relocation of several services, ensuring essential healthcare is not disrupted during the construction period.
More refurbishments completed
Building 8
In another milestone for the Canberra Hospital Expansion Project, construction of the new Building 8 is now complete.
Officially opening on 21 June, the building now houses the Canberra Sexual Health Centre, and has delivered enhanced teaching and training facilities for the hospital, including accommodation for the ANU Medical School, University of Canberra and a new Surgical Training Centre.
Construction of Building 8 supported over 100 local jobs and many local businesses. Major Projects Canberra worked closely with main contractor, SHAPE, and Canberra-based company ABS Façade to develop an innovative structural and façade system that facilitated a fast-tracked construction program.
The build took ten months, with the building’s structure and façade panels installed in just five months.
New hospital staff carpark to ease parking pressure
A new temporary carpark for hospital staff is now operational at the old CIT Woden site. It will offer more than 1,100 spaces, freeing up valuable carparking across the Canberra Hospital campus. The opening of this new temporary staff carpark means that staff vehicles will be directed away from the hospital campus, easing traffic congestion and freeing up space in Canberra Hospital’s southern multi-storey carpark.
The completion of the carpark has taken just 10 months to build with construction creating local jobs for Canberrans. The temporary carpark is one of many new projects to improve facilities for staff, patients and visitors at Canberra Hospital and to prepare the campus for construction to begin later this year on the new Critical Services Building.
New accommodation for patients and carers
Patients and carers are enjoying newly refurbished accommodation facilities in Building 9 on the Canberra Hospital campus. The accommodation opened mid this year and provides much needed upgraded residential accommodation for patients from surrounding regional areas undergoing treatment, or families who need to be close to their loved ones, while they are in hospital. Previously used as doctors’ residences, the refreshed accommodation is more welcoming and comfortable for users.
These works have helped to relocate accommodation services from Building 5 before it is demolished to make way for the Critical Services Building, due to start construction later this year.
Changes to traffic arrangements
If you’ve been to Canberra Hospital recently, you may have noticed several changes across the campus. As part of construction works for the Canberra Hospital Expansion site establishment has started to demolish two existing buildings (5 and 24). This, together with other early works activity, has impacted local traffic arrangements.
Hospital Road
The southern section of Hospital Road has reopened as a one-way through road from south to north. This is to facilitate the closure of one side of the roundabout outside the Main Entry. Hospital users can still use the Main Entry drop-off point outside Building 2 then must continue north to exit the campus at Gilmore Crescent. The northern section of Hospital Road will remain two-way to service Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and National Capital Private Hospital. New signage is in place to assist visitors with these changed arrangements.
Palmer Street
A site entry has been established off Palmer Street. This will be in place for the duration of the construction period and will ultimately be the entry point for the new ambulance bay serving the Emergency Department. Later this year, a section of Palmer Street to the south of the site entry will be configured to include a construction vehicle lane to avoid significant impacts of construction deliveries on Palmer Street traffic. Although construction of the Critical Services Building will require materials to be delivered to site via Gilmore Crescent and via Palmer Street, the ACT Government and Multiplex will make every effort to minimise disruption to the local community.
Building 8 carpark
A carpark behind Building 8 is now open for public use. This includes 23 two-hour and accessible car spaces.
National Capital Private Hospital carpark
The carpark behind National Capital Private Hospital will close in early August 2021. Users will be redirected to park at the new building 8 and 9 carparks as well as the multi-storey carpark.
Find out more about parking at Canberra Hospital.
