REDDING, Calif. — Construction has commenced on Dignity Health’s Sierra Pacific Regional Cancer Center, a project that has been in the works for about a decade. The $70 million facility will consolidate all of Dignity’s oncology services under one roof near the intersection of Cypress and Hartnell Avenues along the Sacramento River.
“I think it is like any construction project,” said Todd. “You end up waiting for stuff that you didn’t know that you needed or didn’t realize would take as long as it does. The planning process, the design… It just takes time. Unfortunately, we got ready and the rain hit. The rain pushed us back as well.”
Recent storms have delayed progress, keeping heavy machinery idle until the ground is sufficiently dry. However, once conditions improve, construction activity is expected to ramp up.
“I think people will start to see construction trailers coming on site, heavy equipment moving in again,” said Robert. “In the next phase we will be doing a lot of drilling for piles for the base foundation. We have already started some of the work we will do with PG&E and the city of Redding to create a utility loop across the entire project… It is exciting to see the real work start.”
Efforts are also underway to recruit oncologists for the center. “We are hard on the recruitment trail,” Todd said. “I have been to more dinners than you can imagine. We have two signed… A nurse practitioner signed as well. We have at least two or three others who are considering as well… We are well on our way to filling the need for that facility.”
The project has been given a 13-month timeline, but Todd anticipates the cancer center will be ready for patients by July 2026. Updates on the project are available on Dignity Health’s website.