EPHRATA - A portion of the Columbia Basin Hospital in Ephrata will start coming down soon, possibly as early as this week, to be replaced with a new and much larger wing. Community members are being invited to contribute their memories on a hospital wall designated for good-byes.

The start of construction was celebrated with a ground breaking ceremony Friday morning.

The new wing will replace a piece of the original hospital, built in 1957. The new addition will be approximately 17,000 square feet.

It's the first phase of a $9.3 million project; the three phases will take about two years to complete, said hospital administrator Robert Reeder. That cost does not include the necessary equipment purchases, Reeder said. The second phase will include renovations at the nursing home, he said.

Two walls in the old section already have been covered with good-byes, good wishes, memories of doctors and nurses, hospital stays and babies born. Reeder said community members will be invited to leave their sentiments until the start of demolition.

The expanded acute care wing will have 25 beds. Construction of the first phase is expected to take about one year, Reeder said. Hospital district voters approved the construction bond late last year.