FORT RILEY, Kan. (AP) — Officials say Fort Riley’s long-delayed new hospital is one step closer to opening and could do so by the end of July.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials told U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp’s office that since Wednesday, the Army has been able to begin using the facility while the remaining construction is completed.

The Corps says the following 120 days are allotted for initial outfitting and transition, including finishing touches, such as installing fixtures and equipment.

If all goes according to schedule, the building will likely open for patients in mid- to late July.

The Corps didn’t immediately respond to the Manhattan (Kan.) Mercury’s (http://bit.ly/1XJTAky ) request for comment.

The new Irwin Army Community Hospital was most recently set to open in January, but officials held back the date after pre-final inspections revealed a list of deficiencies.