Interior Health (IH) is pleased to announce it has awarded the contract for improvements to the Invermere heliport to Max Helmer Construction LTD of Invermere after a standard request for proposal (RFP) process.

Improvement work will begin the week of November 7 with ground preparation. Upgrades to the heliport include relocating and enlarging the size of the helipad to accommodate larger helicopters, lowering and marking of light standards, adding additional lights and installing height restriction gates. The project is expected to be completed in spring 2012 at a total cost of $300.000.

“The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District is very excited to hear that work will begin shortly on the heliport in Invermere” said Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD) Chair John Kettle. “The RHD strongly supports this project and we’re looking forward to being kept up to date on its progress.”

Max Helmer Construction is an Invermere-based contractor specializing in excavation and general construction. The first phase of the project, planning and design, was done by Ground Effects Aerodome Consulting Ltd.

“Interior Health is pleased to be working with Invermere’s Max Helmer Construction on the heliport improvements.” said IH boardchair Norman Embree. ”This is an important project to IH, local residents and visitors to the Columbia Valley.”

In August of this year, Interior Health got the green light from the Ministry of Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District to include the proposed heliport upgrade in the scope of the Invermere & District Hospital Redevelopment and Emergency Department Expansion project.

How quickly an upgraded heliport will be operational is also contingent on discussions occurring between Transport Canada and STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) regarding the use of current helicopters and the introduction of new aircraft in the near future.

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