Big changes as hospital's ESSB project enters 2nd phase

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A dramatic change in the landscape at Jefferson Healthcare hospital is expected this week, when the second construction phase of Jefferson Healthcare's $21 million Emergency and Specialty Services Building (ESSB) project begins.

Starting Saturday, Sept. 19, much of the hospital area alongside Sheridan Street is being closed for demolition work and construction of the new building. The construction is slated to be finished in November 2016.

During the week of Sept. 21, the hospital's 1929 building is being removed. That building has been a landmark on the hospital's campus. It has been gutted in anticipation of its demolition, which is to be in pieces, not by implosion. The work is expected to be done in October.

Employees who have worked in that building have been moved to other offices.

Traffic along Sheridan remains open, but sidewalks and bike lanes on the street's east side are closed, according to a press release from the hospital. There is a street-side Jersey barrier from Ninth Street to Seventh Street. Good news: Parking Lot 1 and the Ninth Street lot will reopen.

Other highlights of work outside the hospital coming in Phase 2 include:

•All traffic to be directed to the hospital's water side from either Seventh or Ninth Street.

• Patient and visitor parking for non-emergency services to be on the water side.

• The newly reconfigured north lot to be open for emergency patient parking only.

• Emergency vehicles access the Emergency Department off of Ninth Street, as before.

• A bus shelter and stop at Seventh and Sheridan has been removed. Bus riders are directed to the 10th and Sheridan Street shelter and stop.

• A new bus stop is being located outside Jefferson Healthcare’s main lobby to open Oct. 5. Check the Jefferson Transit website,

jeffersontransit.com.

• The outpatient specialty clinic and the Sheridan Street emergency department parking lots will be closed on September 19 and remain closed until October 2016.

Inside the hospital, there also are changes, including:

• The Sheridan Street entrance is closed. There is a wall constructed by the fireplace lobby to keep everyone away from the construction zones.

• Limited food services available at the surgery waiting area on the second floor from Sept. 16 through mid-October. Food services returns to the servery area in mid-October.

• The kitchen, cafe eating area and courtyard close during the demolition period of Sept. 18 through mid-October.

• Access to the outpatient clinic is through the administration wing.

Hospital officials note that this is the first major project for Jefferson Healthcare in about 20 years. A 1995 expansion project improved the hospital’s inpatient facilities.

The ESSB project is set to improve the system's outpatient facilities and is set to be completed in late fall of 2016.

“This is an incredible project that will have lasting, positive impacts on the delivery of healthcare services to our community,” said CEO Mike Glenn.

Changes include a new and expanded emergency department and orthopedic clinic, cardiology services, expansion of a cardiology program, cancer treatment center and infusion services area as well as a women’s imaging center with 3D mammography, ultrasound and bone density scanning.

Updates can be found at

JeffersonHealthcare.org/ESSB.