DURHAM, N.C. — A $300 million project is about to take shape in Durham. Despite trouble with its drug Vioxx, pharmaceutical company Merck is going ahead with a new facility in Treyburn Industrial Park in Durham.

Construction is expected to be finished in 2008. Once completed, the facility will create vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox.

The state offered Merck millions of dollars in tax incentives to build its facility in Durham. Company leaders said they picked the city for other reasons as well.

"We chose Durham after an extensive site search and we chose it based on the infrastructure that's here, the diverse and highly qualified workforce and the cooperative environment in terms of government, academic institutions, business and community leaders working together," said Bob Dolan, Merck vice-president.

The facility is expected to initially bring more than 200 jobs to the area. Officials hope to later produce 600 jobs for the facility.