FORT SMITH -  More than 100 officials and guests gathered to celebrate the beginning of construction of the new $7.9 million Mercy Clinic Primary Care – Chaffee Crossing. Officials from Mercy Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE), Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority, chambers of commerce and others gathered for a ceremonial turning of dirt near the clinic site at 7003 Chad Colley Blvd. in Barling, which is part of Chaffee Crossing.

Mercy Clinic Fort Smith and ACHE are collaborating to build the 13,500-square-foot clinic on property the college owns at Chaffee Crossing. The clinic will feature 28 exam rooms, X-ray, triage, and laboratory and conference space to accommodate training requirements of the new Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The college’s students and graduates will have clinical training at this facility, which is across from the college. The school is expected to enroll its first class of 150 in fall 2017.

The clinic will house eight physicians, three advance practice nurses and about 30 support co-workers. Construction is expected to take nine months.