Prefabricated unit marks major step toward bringing permanent MRI services to the region by late 2025<\/p>\n
Published Nov 19, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 2\u00a0days ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 2 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n A modular building that will house the Upper River Valley\u2019s new permanent MRI machine arrived at the Upper River Valley Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, marking a major milestone in a years-long effort to expand diagnostic services in the region.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The pre-built structure, shipped from Quebec, will be installed in the coming days.<\/p>\n According to a press release, the prefabricated unit weighs about 110,000 pounds and travelled roughly 2,400 kilometres over seven days on a 130-foot super-load truck and trailer, making its way through the region\u2019s first snowfall.<\/p>\n The release states Crews will begin setting the unit in place using a 250-ton crane which will lower the structure onto a reinforced foundation beside the hospital\u2019s diagnostic imaging department.<\/p>\n According to a Siemens Canada press release, the modular MRI cassette is the first of its kind in New Brunswick.<\/p>\n The release explains the unit will be connected to the building and utilities and because the cassette\u2019s interior and exterior finishings were completed off-site, and only the delivery and installation of the new Siemens Healthineers MRI system remains.<\/p>\n Morning Email Daily Gleaner<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The new structure will house a permanent 1.5-Tesla MRI \u2014 the first for the facility \u2014 a long-awaited upgrade Horizon Health says will reduce wait times and expand access to advanced diagnostic imaging across the province.<\/p>\n The arrival represents a significant step in the community-driven project years in the making.<\/p>\n In fall 2023, the Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation announced it had reached its $3-million fundraising goal, supported by a $1.4-million donation from an anonymous family from Speerville for the MRI unit, as well as widespread community contributions toward the cost of the building.<\/p>\n SDI Canada \u2014 the medical-infrastructure company that designed and built the cassette \u2014 says the modular approach dramatically shortens timelines compared to traditional construction. The firm, which has completed similar turnkey MRI installations in Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg, delivered the unit less than 10 months after receiving the design contract.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Blaine Lynch, Horizon\u2019s regional director of facilities, engineering and property management, said on-site construction to connect the modular unit to the hospital is progressing well and the project remains on track for completion by December 2025.<\/p>\n Once operational, the MRI is expected to scan its first patient in December 2025. It will replace the portable unit currently shared with Campbellton, which is only on-site in Waterville for part of each month.<\/p>\n According to Horizon the permanent machine will more than double patient capacity and enable scans not possible with the mobile system, including some for patients with pacemakers.<\/p>\n Horizon Health has also committed to recruiting and training the specialized staff required to run the new equipment. Health officials say the investment strengthens diagnostic capacity in the Upper Valley and supports long-term recruitment by demonstrating the region\u2019s commitment to modern, high-quality care.<\/p>\n The Upper River Valley Hospital Foundation says the project supports its mission to elevate healthcare for the roughly 45,000 residents the hospital serves \u2014 an effort that has already delivered more than $4 million in equipment improvements since 2020.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Share this article in your social network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Breadcrumb Trail Links Bugle ObserverFredericton & West Prefabricated unit marks major step toward bringing permanent MRI services to…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":298628,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[49,48,84,392],"class_list":{"0":"post-298627","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-healthcare","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-healthcare"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298627","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=298627"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/298627\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/298628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=298627"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=298627"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=298627"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"URVH](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1119-wb-new-mri.jpg\")
A crane positions the new modular MRI building beside the diagnostic imaging department at the Upper River Valley Hospital on Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 19. Photo by SHANA GREY\/BRUNSWICK NEWSArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.0.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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