May 15, 2008, 12:28AM

Officials with the Texas Children’s West Campus will break ground today on the new West Houston/Katy hospital.

The $220-million, 490,000-square-foot medical complex will be built on 55 acres at Barker Cypress Road and the Katy Freeway.

Texas Children’s is building the medical facility in response to rapid growth in the Katy area.

The project’s first phase is an outpatient building scheduled to open spring/summer 2010 and will offer 15 pediatric specialty services.

The project’s second phase, scheduled to open fall/winter 2010, is an inpatient facility which will include a pediatric emergency room, 48 inpatient beds, surgical suites, and advanced imaging services.

In subsequent phases, 48 in-patient beds will be added.