Amid gloomy skies and precipitous weather, droves of guests flocked to the site of the future St. Luke’s Carbon Campus Thursday afternoon for a groundbreaking ceremony.

The event took place under a tent at the site of the future campus to be located off Harrity Road, and was kicked off with remarks from John Nespoli, president, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Gnaden Huetten & Palmerton campuses.

Nespoli said the development of a brand-new hospital assures the Lehighton area has a very bright future.

“When we open this new hospital in Franklin Township, Lehighton will become a regional center of excellence for behavioral health, for acute rehab, for long-term care, post-acute care, outpatient services,” Nespoli said. “There’s a really bright future for Lehighton.”

The proposed $70-plus million hospital in Franklin Township remains on target to open in 2021.

The proposed 130,000-square-foot hospital will include 40 beds when it opens and eventually expand to 80. It includes a 535-space parking lot. More than 200 employees are expected to work at the facility, including new positions and existing positions from other St. Luke’s facilities in the area.

Last year, Franklin supervisors changed the township’s zoning to allow health care facilities on properties of at least 30 acres.

Read the full story in tomorrow’s edition of the Times News.