An artist's rendering of plans for Redbud Hospital's new front entry. Courtesy of Redbud Community Hospital.

CLEARLAKE – A project to redo the front entrance of Redbud Community Hospital began on Tuesday, May 13, with temporary closure of the hospital’s main entrance for the next six to eight weeks.

The front entrance to the facility will be closed while the driveway is being demolished and replaced. Main patient and visitor access will go through the emergency room. A shuttle service will operate between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the front parking lot. After hours parking will continue to be located in the back of the hospital.

During this time, crews will remove the landscaping, trees and the current driveway, re-grade the driveway and add a retaining wall, then install a new driveway. The balance of the project will involve landscaping, signage and creation of a meditation garden. The entire project is expected to be complete by the end of September.

“The result will be a beautiful and accessible front entrance to greet our patients and visitors. The high hill will be gone and there will be handicap parking with an easier patient pick up area,” said Linda Gibson, senior vice president of operations for Redbud.

“This is one of the steps in a $10 million building program that includes the recent remodeling of our surgery suites, as well as an expansion of the emergency department scheduled to begin later this summer,” said Gibson. “We’re committed to making Redbud the best rural hospital in the state.” Infrastructure work for the emergency department expansion is now underway.

She concluded, “We’re grateful for our community’s patience during this time, and we’re looking forward to having this project completed for everyone’s convenience and comfort.”

Redbud after construction started this week. Courtesy photo.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}