FORT SMITH (KFSM) - Crews are preparing to break ground on a nearly $60 million medical school at Chaffee Crossing. Crews started moving dirt for the new medical school going up Monday (Sept.22). Leaders said it's a project several months in the making.
The first building going up on campus will be the Osteopathic School followed by the Physican's Assistant School. Crews said the Osteopathic School will be three stories tall located on the west side of Chad Colley Boulevard. Once it's up, they'll turn their attention to other areas on campus including several additional small buildings, a main entry for the school, and a pond.
Leaders said local companies are all teaming up to bring this medical school to the area. An investment from the Fort Smith Regional Healthcare Foundation is helping make it all happen, as well a grant of 200 acres from the Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority.
Executive Director Ivy Owen said it's amazing watching the community pull together. "That project is happening and its ahead of schedule," said Owen. According to Owen, "As a matter of fact, by the fall of 2016 there will be a class in that medical school."
Even though crews are starting construction now, they won't have the official ground breaking ceremony for the medical school until the frame for the building goes next spring.
Once construction starts, crews said traffic will be re-routed to Taylor Avenue and Wells Lake. The medical school is set to open in the fall of 2016.