GONZALES —  Our Lady of the Lake St. Elizabeth on Tuesday broke ground on a $59 million hospital expansion project aimed at expanding care for the growing Ascension Parish community.

The project will add a new medical office building to the campus at 1125 West Highway 30 in Gonzales. According to the health system, the expansion is meant to strengthen access to care for area residents.

The new facility will provide additional opportunities for primary care and women’s health services, while creating a welcoming connection between the hospital and the surrounding community, the health system added.

"Today is going to the beginning of the new building, which will allow us to really expand all of our doctors' offices and to bring more physicians here, which will allow us to deliver more care," Chief Medical Officer Chris Trevino said.

FMOL Health leaders, Ascension Parish officials, civic leaders, care teams, project partners and community supporters gathered at the groundbreaking ceremony, marking what leaders describe as the largest healthcare investment in Ascension Parish.