As the old saying goes, “Plan your work and work your plan.” That pithy advice was executed on a grand scale this past weekend as Gay Construction erected the super-structure of the new pedestrian bridge that spans Clifton Road, and JE Dunn Construction completed a section of the streetscape project near Harris Hall. The two-story bridge will connect Emory University Hospital with the new hospital addition currently under construction.

Clifton Road was closed to all traffic except for emergency hospital access beginning at 8 p.m. on Friday, July 22. The road reopened at 1 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, more than 12 hours ahead of schedule. According to David Pugh, Emory Healthcare’s vice president for space planning and construction, Emory University Hospital ran smoothly and without interruption of access or services throughout the more than 40 consecutive hours of construction activity.

Going forward, workers will construct floors and add the glass walls to the new bridge. Timing for taking down the existing pedestrian bridge crossing Clifton Road has yet to be determined. Over the coming months, ongoing streetscape improvements will require periodic lane closures on Clifton Road between Haygood Drive/Eagle Row and North Decatur Road. Log onto www.cliftonstreetscape.com for updates and lane closure information.