Local construction firm gets $1.5 million job

PALMER -- A Valley construction company is the low bidder for a $1.5 million medical clinic expansion job in Haines.

Steppers Construction of Palmer will begin work the first week in August on an addition to the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium's clinic. It will add about 1,200 square feet to the building's south side.

The timetable calls for having the addition enclosed before winter so construction can proceed regardless of colder temperatures. Completion is planned for spring.

Steppers owner John Eshleman said the clinic will stay open throughout the expansion work, which presents an extra set of problems for his crew.

"Coordination, noise levels -- they're all issues but we'll just have to work together," Eshleman said, adding there shouldn't be a problem completing the job by spring "unless something strange happens."

Mark Gorman, the clinic's vice president for community health, agreed that keeping the building open during construction is a ticklish proposition. "We're kind of trying to change the spark plugs on the school bus while the school bus is moving," he said.

Steppers employs between 15 and 25 workers, depending on the season and local construction market. From 12 to 15 employees will be assigned to the Haines project.

Most of the expansion costs will be paid by a grant from the Denali Commission.

The two-story clinic will have about 11,000 square feet of space after the renovation. The addition will be used for a pharmacy, dental offices and an expanded waiting room.