The Daily Dig
SIHF Healthcare has submitted plans to Illinois state regulators to replace Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville with a new $231 million facility about 4 miles away in Cahokia Heights, off Interstate 255.
The proposed hospital at 1928 Sandy Ridge Road would be 177,445 square feet with 108 beds, matching the current facility's count. A basic emergency room would also be included in the new build.
Of those 108 beds, 96 would be dedicated to behavioral health and organized into four separate pods by patient age. The current hospital also uses 96 beds for mental health admissions, but patients are not separated by age.
SIHF has already secured $207.75 million in state grants through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the State Capital Development Board and expects to supplement that with tax credits. The organization purchased the 16-acre site in Cahokia Heights in 2023 for $1.3 million. The land was previously farmland.
When the new hospital opens, the Centreville facility, which will be roughly 60 years old at that point, is planned for closure. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board has scheduled consideration of the application for its July 21 meeting. Target completion is mid-2030.
Project Snapshot:
Project: Touchette Regional Hospital Replacement
Owner/Developer: SIHF Healthcare (formerly Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation)
Current Location: Centreville, Illinois
New Location: 1928 Sandy Ridge Road, Cahokia Heights, Illinois
Size: 177,445 SF
Beds: 108 (96 dedicated to behavioral health)
Facility Type: Replacement hospital with basic ED and inpatient behavioral health focus
Project Value: $231 million
State Grants Secured: $207.75 million
Land Purchase: 16 acres acquired 2023 for $1.3 million
Site Status: Previously farmland
Target Completion: Mid-2030
Regulatory Body: Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board
Review Meeting: July 21
Sector: Healthcare / Behavioral Health
Region: Metro East, Southern Illinois
TheJobWalk Thoughts
With $207.75 million in state grants already awarded and land already purchased, this project has real financial backing. The certificate of need is the remaining gate. GCs and MEP subs active in the healthcare space in southern Illinois should be positioning now, not after approval lands.
A behavioral health hospital with four age-separated pods is a specialty build. Expect tight infection control requirements, specific acoustic and security considerations, and finishes that meet clinical and patient safety standards. The subcontractor pool that can execute that scope competently is not wide in every market.
The mid-2030 target gives the schedule room, but a project of this complexity and funding structure will move through design quickly once regulatory clearance comes through.
