SANTEE, Calif. -- A ceremony was held Tuesday to mark the completion of the 167,000-square-foot Edgemoor Skilled Nursing Facility in Santee, a county-run hospital for the chronically ill.

The hospital, which replaces a deteriorating facility built in the 1920s, cost $123.5 million to build, with about half of the money coming from the federal government and the rest from county-issued bonds.

The project was plagued by cost overruns and delays from the time work began nearly four years ago.

While the hospital cannot open to patients until the state completes its licensing process, officials marked the completion of the project.

"The new Edgemoor speaks volumes to our county's commitment to our friends and neighbors that face adversity and challenges in everyday life," said Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Dianne Jacob.

"This new facility allows us to compassionately deliver the most modern treatment and rehabilitation services available while still saving valuable taxpayer resources in these tough economic times," she said.

The facility was built on 15 acres of county-owned property just north of the old hospital. It will house 192 patients, compared to the 175 patients that can currently be accommodated.

According to Nick Macchione, director of the county's Health and Human Services Agency, Edgemoor cares for people who have experienced life-altering events such as a brain injury or stroke.