North Chicago

NORTH CHICAGO - A $10 million project to renovate surgical facilities and expand the emergency room at North Chicago Veterans Affairs Medical Center will be announced Tuesday.

"This is the second major step in combining North Chicago VA Medical Center with Naval Hospital Great Lakes," said U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park.

The renovation work is scheduled to be completed by June 2006, he said.

The project is part of an overall plan to build a $170 million ambulatory care center next to the North Chicago VA Medical Center in North Chicago, Kirk said. The center is expected to care for veterans, active duty military personnel, military dependents and military retirees.

The project announcement will be made at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Building 133 at the VA hospital.

Along with Kirk, Rear Adm. Gary Jones, commander of Great Lakes Naval Station, Patrick Sullivan, director of the North Chicago VA Medical Center, and Capt. Michael Anderson of Great Lakes are expected to be on hand.