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Hospital traffic circle reopens as cancer center work continues

 

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The traffic circle in front of Upstate University Hospital will reopen Monday, Oct. 10, at 6 a.m. The traffic circle was closed this summer ago so crews could install an underground extension of the hospital's steam line to the footprint of what will be the new Upstate Cancer Center. While the traffic circle was closed, patients and visitors used a temporary circle to access the hospital entrance.

The reopening of the traffic circle will enable patients to be dropped off and picked up in front of the hospital's main entrance. "We appreciate everyone's understanding about any inconvenience the main traffic closure has caused," said Paul Seale, the hospital's chief operating officer.

The reopening of the traffic circle will not include the green space designed for the center of the circle, just yet. Hospital planners say that will be installed as the Upstate Cancer Center nears completion.

At the same time the traffic circle reopens, the entrances to the Regional Oncology Center (ROC), the CNY Gamma Knife Center and the employee entrance will close in anticipation of cancer center construction. Access to the ROC and Gamma Knife Center will be through the hospital.

Work crews will begin drilling caissons into the ground to support construction of the cancer center foundation. That work should begin on or about Oct. 14.

"The installation of these caissons continues the early work that is needed prior to the construction of the steel frame of the Upstate Cancer Center," Seale said. "It's an exciting early development."

The Upstate Cancer Center will be a five-story $74-million facility that will bring all of the university's outpatient cancer services-pediatric and adult-under one roof. The new facility will encompass 90,000 square feet on three stories and feature 27 private infusion areas, four-season rooftop healing gardens, meditation room, family resource center, multidisciplinary practice locations, private space for genetic, financial and other counseling services, a boutique for patient apparel and other personal products and three linear accelerator rooms. The facility will include two additional floors to accommodate future expansion.

Seale said the Cancer Center is on schedule to open in Fall 2013.

 

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