The aging Ireland Army Community Hospital at Fort Knox is being replaced with a new medical clinic. It’s one of several wins for the Hardin County post contained in the latest defense bill passed by Congress.
During a visit to Fort Knox Tuesday, Senator Mitch McConnell announced $80 million in federal funding for the project. The current hospital was built nearly 60 years ago, making it one of the oldest in the Army.
Area residents had been advocating for a new facility for several years, including retired army officer Bob Roush.
"We've grown exponentially in size and number of retirees in the community, and Fort Knox continues to have a good population of active duty soldiers," Roush told WKU Public Radio.
Fort Knox is home to more than 40,000 service members, their families, and army civilians who rely on the hospital for their medical care.
Other improvements are coming to Fort Knox. The recently approved National Defense Authorization Act also contains $23 million for school renovations on the post.
