(Neb.)-Omaha to Get Multimillion-Dollar VA Project

By: Chad Franzen Posted at: 02/01/2010 03:24 PM

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - Omaha's aging veterans hospital will be getting a $564 million tower and facelift.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced Monday that $56 million has been budgeted in 2011 for planning and design of the project. Construction could be gin in 2012.

The plan includes construction of a new inpatient tower and surgical suite, renovations to the hospital's existing outpatient clinic and additional parking.

Nebraska's U.S. senators lauded the announcement. U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, a Republican who serves on the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, said "our veterans deserve the very best care
available."

Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat, says the announcement "is very good news for the thousands of veterans in Nebraska and western Iowa."