Look! Up in the sky! A … bridge?
That’s right. On July 27 and 29, crews used a giant crane to install a pedestrian bridge between the new Orchard Street Garage and the Verdi building at the Saint Raphael Campus as part of the Neurosciences Center and Bed Tower project. While each phase of the bridge installation lasted several hours, preparation took many months and required coordination among Yale New Haven Hospital’s Facilities and Engineering and other departments, outside contractors, the City of New Haven, utility companies and other organizations.
Crews assembled sections of the bridge in part of the Emergency Department parking lot. Once the sections were complete, crews positioned and readied a crane to install them. On July 27, the first section of bridge was placed next to the George Street garage. The second, longer section was installed over Orchard Street on July 29. For that installation, a portion of Orchard Street was closed, utility lines temporarily moved and contingency plans put in place in case power to the hospital was disrupted. The installation was a success.
The new, 781-space Orchard Street Garage is scheduled to open in the fall; however the new pedestrian bridge won’t open for some time. People parking in the new Orchard Street Garage will be able to access the hospital at street level.
After the new Orchard Street Garage opens, crews will begin the process of demolishing and replacing the existing Orchard Street Garage and pedestrian bridge. That work is expected to be complete in fall 2024.
The Neurosciences and Bed Tower project recently reached another significant milestone, as crews began installing the steel for the McGivney Tower atop the McGivney Advanced Surgery Center. For safety, the first floor of the building has been vacated; McGivney surgeries are being performed in the Verdi building ORs. Surgeries are expected to resume at the McGivney Surgery Center on a reduced schedule later this month.
Thank you to everyone for your patience throughout the Neurosciences Center and Bed Tower project.
