MOSES LAKE — The construction of a new Samaritan Hospital will cost about $2.1 million less than first projected. Construction will begin sooner than originally anticipated, with site preparation scheduled to begin in mid-September.

A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 6.

The revised construction estimate is $143.87 million; the cost estimate — the “guaranteed maximum price” — approved by Samaritan commissioners in July was $145.7 million.

Joe Kunkel, a consultant working with Samaritan on the project, said the start date is being moved up by about two months, and construction should be completed sometime in December 2025.

Consultants thought there was a possibility the project could start earlier when Samaritan commissioners approved the GMP, Kunkel said, but weren’t certain it would happen.

“In order to do it, we needed a couple of things to fall into place,” Kunkel said. “We needed the financing to get completed. And we needed USDA’s permission to let us do this. Both of those happened last week.”

Part of the project is being financed with a U.S. Department of Agriculture loan. A construction bond approved by district voters in April and financing from private lenders make up the rest.

In addition, the project also received permission to start construction from the Washington Department of Health last week, Kunkel said.

Abram Jenks, also a consultant on the project, said contractors were able to purchase some mechanical and electrical equipment earlier than anticipated, which will reduce the projected cost, and the shorter construction schedule will cut the cost for project management.

Kunkel said Graham Construction, the general contractor, will get official notice Thursday that construction can begin.

“That doesn’t mean they start (Aug. 24). That’s their notice, and then they’ve got to get ramped up,” Kunkel said. “So we’re targeting the middle of September for them to be on site and start putting up construction fence.”

The first phase will involve site preparation, including clearing the site and installing utilities. The project can’t proceed to the second phase, starting the frame, until the final financing package is completed. Kunkel said that is scheduled for Sept. 28. The financing and construction plans must be reviewed and approved by USDA and DOH before framing can begin, but Kunkel said he’s confident the approval will be given.

“That’s why you select the team that you do, a design team and contractor who do this work,” he said. “Because they know what to do.”

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected]. She has been a member of the CBH team for more than a decade and enjoys sewing in her free time.