By Denise Lana,
Decorah’s long-awaited Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic is nearing completion. The project’s building supervisor Jake Henry anticipates construction will wrap up Friday.
The interior of the 17,000 square-foot facility is complete, but its rooms will remain empty for a few more weeks.
“It’s a wide-open space inside — there is only the radiology machine and sound booth for the audiologist,” Henry said.
The VA has a furniture package purchased which is expected to arrive by the end of February, according to Henry, and the medical facility equipment at the current clinic located on Short Street near Hibbett Sports won’t be transferred to the new clinic until May 2.
The exterior of the new outpatient clinic is almost complete as well — all that remains is the installation of two streetlights, which are expected to arrive in March, Henry said.
“Construction has been very good,” said Henry. “We had an aggressive schedule, but everybody stayed on it and there were no issues.”
Henry also credits an early start on construction with the successful completion of the building. The necessary dirt work was completed without any weather delays. Had crews waited until early 2025 to start construction, his team wouldn’t have been so fortunate, Henry said.
“Luckily the weather was good for us,” Henry said. “Everything is going good on our end, and we should be finished up by Friday.”
The facility will offer expanded services for area veterans, including a state-of-the-art physical therapy room and added space for optometry services. Additional services will include primary care, mental health, optometry, audiology, physical therapy, radiology and social work, along with access to dietitians, battlefield acupuncture, labs, pharmacy and immunizations.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held after the clinic is complete, but a specific date has yet to be scheduled.
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