OMB: New state hospital remains on schedule; projected cost about $292M

Lindsay Ashley, statewide construction manager with the Office of Management and Budget, gave the committee an updated construction status for the new state hospital in Jamestown.

Ashley said crews are pouring concrete on metal decking, setting shallow foundations and beginning foundation walls in several areas. "Substantial completion is still projected in '27; the facility should be operational in '28," she told the committee.

The project's appropriation includes $200 million of SIF funding and up to a $100 million line of credit; current cost estimates total about $292 million, which include construction costs reported by the contractor plus NDIT costs, state costs, furniture and equipment, contingencies and deferred costs incorporated from favorable bid results.

Accepted alternates incorporated into the budget include adding a second window in patient rooms, heat‑recovery for chillers, security fencing, interior snow‑melt systems for courtyards, and conduit upsizing for future NDIT cabling. Several NDIT‑managed items—duress alarms, PA systems and sound masking—are still being negotiated with vendors.

Ashley also provided the committee the Mortenson monthly progress report and noted the steering committee (two governor’s office reps, two OMB reps, two HHS reps and three legislators) has met and will meet again in May.

No committee vote was taken; the presentation was informational and OMB offered to circulate progress photos and steering‑committee updates between meetings.