Rideout expansion plans stitched, ready to go

Expansion plans for Rideout Memorial Hospital have grown bigger and more expensive during the past year.

But the project, which revolves around construction of a new eight-floor main tower and helicopter landing pad, is set to break ground Monday — right on schedule — according to executives at Fremont-Rideout Health Group.

"We've got a lot of things going in preparation," said Tony Moddesette, vice president of facilities and projects for Fremont-Rideout.

An environmental impact report for the plan has yet to be certified.

Asbestos removal and other tasks that do not require permitting are set to be performed prior to a planning commission meeting on Wednesday in Marysville during which the EIR is expected to be approved.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012.

Changes to the plan will make the hospital's emergency department, loading dock and ICU areas larger than initially intended, according to Moddesette. The changes, which enlarged the plan from a 234,000 square-foot expansion to 265,000 square feet, raised projected costs from $140 million to $229 million.

An initial demolition phase of the project includes detouring a city storm drain, which runs beneath G Street, to Fourth Street, F Street, and over to Third Street, Moddesette said.

Demolition also will include taking down the Witt, I.S. and Hardie buildings on G Street.

Concerns brought forward in recent months by residents regarding EIR procedure and pedestrian safety around the hospital, according to City Services Director Dave Lamon, have either been addressed already, or are scheduled to be discussed as part of the public certification process Wednesday.

A draft EIR document had been made available for public review, Lamon said, in compliance with legal requirements.

And safety issues related to pedestrians and bicyclists, he said, are either being addressed by the EIR process, or are beyond the scope and impact of the hospital expansion project.

Complaints about Marysville's lack of pedestrian-friendly routes, particularly around the E Street Bridge, Lamon said, are valid.

"I don't disagree with people who say there are deficiencies there," he said.

But many of the problems are related to Caltrans, and the two major highways the agency located in the city, he said. And most are beyond the impact expected from the hospital expansion.

Following the completion of construction, inpatient and acute patient care will be streamlined from Fremont-Rideout's two locations to the single, expanded hospital in Marysville.

That move, required because of changes to earthquake compliance codes for hospitals, must be made prior to January 2013, said Moddesette.

The existing Yuba City facility may take on some outpatient care cases.

"But we haven't determined yet what to do with that site," Moddesette said.

Contact Appeal-Democrat reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4712 or at npasternack@appealdemocrat.com.