IHA has awarded Penticton-based Greyback Construction the contract to build a new helipad at Royal Inland Hospital.

Interior Health Authority said Friday design of the upgraded site at RIH is complete. The project is expected to meet its $750,000 budget and be complete this summer.

Construction will start this month.

The new helipad is designed to meet Transport Canada standards.

Nearly two years ago the federal agency deemed the existing helipad too small. Patients are currently landed and flown out of a site at the City of Kamloops works yard on Mission Flats.

IHA said the new design meets Transport Canada requirements for landing helicopters 17.5 metres in length and weighing 7,700 kilograms.

Both larger, twin-engine helicopters and single-engine units will be able to use the H3 classified heliport, IHA said.

Bob Gray, a community leader who has pushed hard for upgraded medevac service, credited IHA with going with the H3 classification, saying "it answered all my questions.

"An H3 pad is a good thing. If Mike Wiegele (helicopter skiing) came in he wouldn't be able to land on an H1. It gives a lot of flexibility."

The new facility is on the same location at the old site, but moved farther east with a concrete platform on concrete pillars. It extends over the hillside.

The project is funded 40 per cent by local taxpayers through the Thompson Regional Hospital District.