After years of planning and anticipation, the construction of the new Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital began the week of July 9. To help patients and visitors find their way through changes in the area, wayfinding signs have been placed prominently throughout the construction zone.
Chief Executive Officer Lesley Ogden, MD said construction has started with foundations and other site work through the summer, followed by the steel framework going up later in the year. Plans are to have the building “dried in” with exterior walls and roof in place by winter.
“Building a new hospital is an exciting process but it also brings change, which can be uncomfortable,” Dr. Ogden said. “We will have ample signage in place and our wonderful Auxiliary volunteers will be stationed at the two public entrances to assist and answer questions.”
The new 52,000-square-foot facility is being built on the site of the hospital’s main parking lot, directly east of the existing building. Much of the remaining parking spaces around the hospital and clinic buildings will be reserved for patients and visitors, with temporary staff parking located just west of the hospital campus.
“We will have plenty of parking to meet our needs even during peak times,” Dr. Ogden commented.
Once construction fencing is erected around the construction zone, the main (east) entrance to the hospital will be closed. It will be used for emergency exit only from the building and for access to the medical helipad, which will remain operational throughout the 18 to 24-month construction time-frame.
The hospital’s two public entrances will be the outpatient/emergency services entrance located at the northwest corner of the building, and the south entrance. All else will remain the same in the hospital and the campus during construction.
To keep up-to-date with construction, check out our page for the new hospital in Lincoln City and follow Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital on Facebook. We hope to have a live web cam installed soon so you can watch our progress!