Washington (ECN) - President George W. Bush helped kick off the Walter Reed Army hospital construction on Thursday.

Just one day before the Fourth of July, Bush helped by using a shovel to start the digging for the new Walter Reed Army hospital, which will replace the current facility located in Washington.

The new hospital will combine Army operations along with the operations of the National Navy Medical Center.

The old Walter Reed Army hospital has been under a great deal of scrutiny as of late.

The new Walter Reed Army hospital is expected to be completed by the year 2011.