plans for new rio rancho medical center advance

A two-story, 48,000 square-foot medical research and learning institute may be seeing construction later this year in Rio Rancho.

Members of the Rio Rancho Governing Body have given their approval to the first reading of a loan ordinance that would pay for the construction of what is being called the University of New Mexico Center for Orthopedic Excellence.

The facility will be built to the southwest of the Sandoval Regional Medical Center, which is located at 3001 Broadmoor Boulevard.

Designed to be a part of the larger Rio Rancho Health Sciences Center, the new facility will house office, and clinical and classroom space, among other features.

The New Mexico Finance Authority has authorized a loan of up to $15.5 million to pay for the construction of the new center. The loan itself will be paid for out of revenues from a gross receipts tax approved by Rio Rancho voters in 2008.
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Work could begin on the center by late spring or early summer, with a target late 2021 completion date.

​By Garry Boulard

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