FREEPORT – Freeport residents soon won’t need to travel out of town to see a pediatrician or get lab work done.

In June, Central Maine Healthcare and NorDx Labs begin operations in the new Freeport Medical Center, under construction at 23 Durham Road and being developed by Dr. Brian Knighton and his wife, Nicky. Knighton’s Freeport osteopathic practice will relocate from 42 Mallet Drive. Nicky Knighton is president of ACG Properties, which will own and manage the new building. ACG Properties also manages the facility on Mallett Drive, and is looking for someone to sub-lease that property.

Nicky Knighton said that Central Maine Healthcare will have two pediatricians and a nurse practitioner at the new Freeport Medical Center. NorDx has several patient service centers, or blood draw centers, the nearest one being in Yarmouth.

“I don’t know the last time Freeport had a pediatrician,” Knighton said. “And having a blood-draw center here in Freeport is going to be such a convenience for a lot of people. Anybody with any doctor can come in with an order. It’s going to be a great service for our patients, too.”

She said Monday she would learn who the pediatricians are later in the day.

Central Maine Healthcare includes Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Rumford Hospital and Bridgton Hospital.

“Central Maine Healthcare is expanding with the addition of a new (pediatric) clinic,” Knighton said. “This is a landmark move, since no hospital organization has had a presence in Freeport.”

Two other osteopaths, Jacey Goddard and Daniel Gibbons will move Freeport Osteopathic Health, now located at 491 U.S. Route 1 in Freeport, to the new Freeport Medical Center.

Central Maine Healthcare will be located on the upper floor of the new building. NorDx Labs and Knighton’s practice, operating as Freeport Medical Center, will be on the main floor, while Freeport Osteopathic Health will occupy the lower level.

Keith McBride, executive director of the Freeport Economic Development Corp., said he is impressed that Nicky Knighton was able to fill the three-level facility this far in advance.

“The fact that they were able to fill this with tenants so quickly speaks to the need,” McBride said. “That’s not a coincidence.”

Town Manager Peter Joseph agreed that Freeport needs a facility such as the one Freeport Medical Center is building.

“Our two neighboring towns in Yarmouth and Brunswick have a higher concentration of medical facilities,” Joseph said, “so any uptick is welcome here.”

The 67,000-square-foot building is in the early stages of construction, and is being built by Houses & Barns by John Libby.

Workers from Houses & Barns by John Libby are making rapid progress constructing the new Freeport Medical Center, at 23 Durham Road. It is scheduled to open in June.