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The new Dunedin hospital’s outpatient building is nearing completion but a side effect of this is traffic disruptions.
An MRI scanner, along with a CT scanner, will be craned into the building through a temporary opening in the building’s facade on July 6, as the building prepares for opening later this year.
Outpatient building project director Andrew Holmes said the arrival of major diagnostic equipment signalled a key shift from construction to the fit-out of clinical spaces.
‘‘Installing the MRI and CT scanners is a significant step forward for the project and a clear sign that we are moving from building the facility to preparing it for patient care.
‘‘These are complex, high-value pieces of equipment that require months of planning — from procurement through to installation logistics.’’
At the same time, the team had begun installing fixtures, furniture and equipment throughout the building, from clinical spaces to staff work areas, he said.
Fixtures, furnishings, and equipment including operating tables, waiting room seating, staff workspace desks and storage, began being installed in the building last month.
To safely carry out the MRI/CT installation and to support ongoing construction of the inpatient building, lane closures on SH88 St Andrew St — which connects Dunedin’s one-way systems — begin from July 2 and will continue for the rest of the month.
From July 2, there will be a single lane closure (east bound) before transitioning into a dual lane closure, where traffic will be transitioned into a single lane in each direction.
The road is expected to be closed fully from 11pm on July 5 for the medical imaging equipment to be installed.
After the installation, St Andrew St (SH88) will be fully closed during the day from 6am for up to four weeks to allow for piling of the pedestrian overbridge which connects the outpatient and inpatient buildings.
One lane in each direction will reopen each afternoon about 3pm to support peak traffic flows and vehicles travelling straight through St Andrew St between the one-way systems.
During these periods, traffic can continue straight ahead only.
Drivers will not be able to turn right from St Andrew St on to the one-way systems or right from the one-way systems on to St Andrew St.
A detour will be available to all road users via Frederick St.
Delays can be expected while travelling through central Dunedin during this time and the public are asked to plan their journeys and use alternate routes.
Mr Holmes said the closure was essential to allow heavy-lifting equipment to operate safely and to install the structural piles that would support the future overhead elevated bridge linking the outpatient and inpatient buildings.
Access for emergency services will be maintained throughout this period while pedestrians will still be able to use the southern footpath in St Andrew St.
Meanwhile, roadworks begin on SH1 Cumberland St from Monday and are expected to be complete by mid-July.
The SH1 Cumberland St(northbound) cycleway will be moved to allow construction vehicles safe access to the inpatient building site.
The two existing traffic lanes will remain open.
The works will also include a new entrance to the inpatient building for construction traffic and adapting lighting control for both cyclists and construction traffic.
Work to divert the cycleway will be undertaken throughout the evening and during this period the right vehicle lane will be closed and the cycleway diverted.
The cycleway diversion will remain until the inpatient building is complete.
Cyclists are encouraged to follow the updated markings and signage in place.
Inpatient building project director Tony Lloyd said temporary disruptions were required to safely support construction milestones.
‘‘These short-term disruptions are essential to delivering long-term benefits, helping create a hospital precinct that is safer, more accessible and designed around the needs of patients, whānau, staff and the wider community.’’
The outpatient building is on track to open later this year, with the inpatient building scheduled for completion in 2031. — Allied Media