The Department of Navy is letting the public comment on two options for the massive relocation of services from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Bethesda’s National Navy Medical Center.
The final phase of the move, which is part of the Base Realignment and Closure plan, must be complete in 2011 — but the shift starts next year.
Two basic alternatives for the large-scale facility relocation were just announced, according to Navy Medical Center spokesman Brian Badura, and citizens will be able to glimpse them — and make comments — at three upcoming open house-style meetings.
The first plan will add roughly 1.1 million square feet to the Navy Medical Center. There will also be 900,000 extra square feet of parking and 1,400 newly hired full-time staff, enabling doctors onsite to treat 435,000 more patients per year.
The second plan expands upon the first — so that 2,500 full-time staff members would be hired to treat about 535,000 patients a year.
Badura said the latter approach is obviously a costlier alternative but, as is the case with most aspects of the project, figures have yet to be determined.
“The pieces are still falling into place,” he said Thursday. “All we know is that the estimated cost for BRAC-related construction in Bethesda is just under $500 million.”
Ultimately, the decision about cost and final design will be made by the Department of Defense.
In the meantime, Badura said it would take a year to complete an environmental impact study. Construction itself will likely begin in 2008 and all personnel would be moved before the end of 2011.
For more information, go to www.bethesda.med.navy.mil.
