PORT TOWNSEND — The construction of Jefferson Healthcare’s new emergency and special services building enters its second phase this week, with activity surrounding the area expected to increase before it settles down.
The new phase will affect much of the area alongside Sheridan Street, which will be closed for demolition work and construction of the new building through November 2016.
During this period, all services remain open, and the hospital expects to care for patients without disruption.
“We’re very pleased with our progress,” CEO Mike Glenn said in an email Monday.
“We have a lot of work in front of us, but we still expect to be seeing patients in the new building this time next year.”
Glenn said the project manager is staying within the $20 million budget and the contractor is working toward meeting next fall’s opening date.
Most of the work thus far has been utilities improvement, parking lot renovation and building demolition, all of which “does not impact our care teams,” he added.
Access change
When completed, the new 50,000-square-foot building will change access to the hospital, moving the main entrance to the Sheridan Street side instead of the less convenient waterside entrance now in use.
It will include an expanded emergency department, an orthopedic clinic and an improved and dedicated cardiology services space supporting the latest in cardiac test procedures.
Also planned is a modern cancer-treatment center and infusion-services area where patients will look out on a water view while receiving chemotherapy treatment.
A comprehensive women’s imaging center with the newest equipment in 3-D mammography, ultrasound and bone-density scanning is also part of the plan.
The first phase concentrated on moving and upgrading utility lines, building new utility services to support the new building and reconfiguring parking lots on Ninth Street.
This required closing the doors on the Sheridan Street side and mandating entry on the water side.
Demolition
The second phase begins this week with the demolition of a maintenance facility built in 1929; that phase should be complete in mid-October.
Traffic along Sheridan will remain open, while sidewalks and bike lanes on the east side of the street between Ninth and Seventh streets will be closed.
All traffic will be directed to the water side of the building by either Ninth Street or Seventh Street.
Patient and visitor parking will be on the water side of the hospital for non-emergency medical services.
The newly reconfigured north parking lot will be open for emergency patient parking only.
Emergency vehicles will access the emergency department off Ninth Street, as before.
The bus shelter and stop at Seventh and Sheridan streets has been removed, with a new bus stop outside the waterside entrance to begin service Oct. 5.
Closed until 2016
The Outpatient Specialty Clinic and the Sheridan Street emergency department parking lots will be closed Thursday and remain so until October 2016.
The kitchen, cafe eating area and courtyard will be closed during the demolition period.
Limited food services will be available at the surgery waiting area on the second floor from Wednesday through mid-October of this year, at which time regular food services will resume.
Access to the outpatient clinic will be through the administration wing.
Construction phases and updates are available at www.JeffersonHealthcare.org/ESSB.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
