An administrative law judge has ruled in favor of Trinity Medical Center, which seeks to relocate its 44-year-old facility from Montclair Road in Birmingham to the facility Health South began constructing on U.S. 280, just north of the Shelby County line.

Trinity Medical Center officials said in a press release that $225 million was invested by Health South initially in the facility, which never opened. Trinity is prepared to invest another $280 million to complete the facility, officials said in the press release.

“We are thrilled that after carefully considering the testimony of more than 61 witnesses during four weeks of hearings, Judge Hampton has concluded that Trinity should move to Highway 280 in Birmingham where we will be able to provide patient care in a modern, technologically-advanced medical complex,” said Keith Granger, chief executive officer of Trinity Medical Center. “We are grateful to Judge Hampton for conducting a thorough and fair review of all the facts and we appreciate that he has reached this decision.”

Trinity officials said the next step in the process is a hearing before the Alabama Certificate of Need Review Board on Sept. 15, which will determine whether the project will receive state approval.

Brookwood Medical Center and St. Vincent’s Hospital are opposing the Trinity venture.