Avenue to close for expansion
As Uniontown Hospital prepares to begin the major construction phase of its $50 million building and expansion project, significant changes will take place on Monday morning at the hospital campus. The changes are expected to last for the entire renovation/expansion project, which should be completed in March 2010, according to Don Record, the hospital’s vice president of support services.
Record explained that the changes include the permanent closing of Thompson Avenue, which is the road that connects McClellandtown Road (Route 21) and Delaware Avenue immediately in front of the hospital’s emergency department.
“Basically, we are expanding the hospital overtop of Thompson Avenue, and that’s why the road must be closed,” Record said during a recent interview. “Thompson Avenue is how emergency vehicles are getting into the emergency department right now. We want to assure the public that provisions will be made for all emergency vehicles and patients to have access into the ER during the construction process.
“We plan to move the parking lots around to make it more convenient for patients who will park in the current employee lots and have easy walking access into the hospital,” he added.
Last week, Record said hospital officials met with ambulance and emergency personnel to explain the changes to emergency department access and the closing of Thompson Avenue.
On Monday morning, Record said, signs will be erected to direct patients and employees into the hospital parking lots. Hospital police officers will be offering assistance at that time.
“The entire construction area will be fenced in at this time as well,” Record said. “The fenced construction area will run from the west edge of the hospital, across Thompson and through half of the employee parking lot number 6E.”
Fencing also will be erected around the current physical plant, across Thompson all the way into the current physician parking lot. Record said the majority of the front of the emergency department also will be encompassed with construction fencing.
As a result of this safety fencing, Record said changes will occur in traffic flow, pedestrian walking paths and parking.
Parking in front of the emergency department will be gone, according to Record.
“The parking for the public will actually be closer to the building in a former employee parking lot,” he said. “We’re trying to get employees away from the public. We want to make it as convenient for the public as we can. We’re going to inconvenience our employees instead of the public.”
The hospital is leasing land from the Fayette County Housing Authority that will serve as parking lots for employees.
The changes have been reflected in the new parking and construction map and the newly created employee and physician access map, Record said.
Record said both maps are available to employees through department directors and in various locations throughout the building.
The following are important points and guidelines that employees and the public need to be aware of and to abide by:
– Employees must only use the main entrance for entering and exiting the hospital.
– Employees must not use the emergency department or alley entrances during construction activities.
– Walk to and from the hospital on sidewalks along Woodlawn and Delaware avenues away from construction areas.
– Stay clear of construction areas at all times.
– Allow sufficient time to park and walk to the hospital.
– Pay attention to where you are walking and the walking surface. Be careful not to “rubberneck” while walking.
– Employee access cards will be needed in the off hours to enter the building.