AURORA, Colo. – The unfinished VA Hospital in Aurora is nearly 80 percent complete after mismanagement by the VA left Congress no choice but to turn the project over to the Army Corps of Engineers almost a year ago. This weekend, Denver7 joined officials with the Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a tour of the unfinished VA Hospital in Aurora.
You’ll recall the medical complex was investigated after its construction budget nearly tripled. Early estimates said the project would cost roughly $604 million, yet the current estimated cost is near $1.7-billion.
This November will mark a full year since the Army Corps of Engineers took on the project.
During Saturday’s tour, Corps of Engineers officials announced the project is 78 percent complete.
Power is available site-wide and reception desks have been installed, but much more work is needed.
“It looks like a hospital that’s about ready to receive people, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” said Eileen Williamson with the Corps of Engineers.
VA officials called the addition of its new 30-bed Spinal Cord Injury Clinic the “crown jewel” of the project. Officials said it is the first of its kind of Eastern Colorado healthcare.
The project is expected to be completed by January 2018.
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