by Sabrina Salas Matanane

Guam - A company based out of Honolulu, Hawaii has been awarded a $158 million contract to build a new replacement naval hospital in Guam. "This is a very significant and historic event," said Captain Kevin Haws, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Guam.

"The new hospital will provide a facility that meets the medical needs of our patient population today and in the future. It will provide easy access and the latest in inpatient and outpatient technology, and will promote and sustain a healthy force, ready to deploy when called upon."

According to a media release from Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific the construction will be done in phases, the new hospital will be completed before the old one in Agana Heights will be demolished. The work also includes the expansion of the central utility plant building, new boilers, emergency generator, required ancillary equipment and utility service lines from the plant to the new hospital building. Construction is expected to be completed by October 2014.