WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The first stage of construction for the new pediatric Emergency Department at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center begins this month and will result in temporary traffic patterns for all Emergency Department visits.
Beginning Monday, March 8, traffic patterns for walk-in patients, ambulances, emergency vehicles and deliveries will be changed for up to eight weeks during the first state of construction. To keep traffic moving smoothly and ensure appropriate access to the ED, medical center officials have been preparing signage and educating emergency medical personnel, delivery truck drivers and others on the temporary changes. Additional security and valet attendants will be on hand 24/7 to assist, including a manned information center where a security attendant will direct drivers.
The temporary traffic pattern still has vehicles turning off Cloverdale Avenue, beside the Shell station, onto Grove Park Avenue. All critical care vehicles will turn left on Beach Street in front of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and go to the loading dock driveway to access the temporary ED entrance on the back side of Ardmore Tower. All ED walk in traffic and convalescent transports will be directed to the lower level of the ED parking deck for entrance. All private vehicles pulling into this area will be valet parked, free of charge.
Oncology patients at the Comprehensive Cancer Center are asked to park in Deck C on the purple level to free up the lower level for ED access and also for pedestrian safety. The Cancer Center can be accessed from the parking deck via a pedestrian bridge.
“We are excited that the new pediatric ED project is launching, but it does require some temporary traffic pattern shifts for a short period of time,” said James Bryant, R.N., M.S.N., director of Emergency and Transport Services. “We have taken every precaution with additional signage and personnel to provide direction so that patients are able to access our emergency services. This is only a temporary change in traffic patterns and we just ask for patience and understanding.”
Media Relations
Bonnie Davis: bdavis@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-1597
Mark Wright: news@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-4587