Hartford Hospital, the major teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Connecticut Medical School, has unveiled its plans to invest $61 million to expand and nearly double the beds in its emergency department The investment will also see the renovation of several vacant, rundown buildings near its campus on Jefferson Street, and allow for the construction of a much-anticipated parking garage and a new chapel.Hartford Hospital has said that it will invest $16 million to expand its emergency department, adding 20,000 square feet and about 26 new beds to an existing 60 beds. The hospital will also open a new primary-care and urgent-care centre in Avon on Route 44. The Avon facility will have diagnostic testing and expanded hours.
In late 2011, the hospital will commence construction work on a $40 million parking garage with 1,200 spaces on Hudson Street between Park and Jefferson streets. The parking spaces will be mostly for staff, adding to about 5,000 parking spaces on the hospital’s campus.Hartford Healthcare, the parent organization of Hartford Hospital, will fund the construction through a $350 million bond package to finance the $61 million investment. The project is expected to create about 280 jobs, most of which are temporary and related to the construction, but some of which will be permanent, full-time positions.