The installation of the HSHS St. John’s Hospital sky bridge over Ninth Street will begin at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11. Once complete, the sky bridge will connect HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital to the new outpatient center for women and children that will house providers from SIU Medicine, HSHS Medical Group and St. John’s Hospital.
During installation, Ninth Street will be temporarily closed from Carpenter Street to Madison Street. Motorists should plan alternate routes from 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 11 to 5 a.m. on Thursday, April 12.
The pedestrian sky bridge over Ninth Street will be lifted in place with the trusses, floor beams, roof beams and bracing system already assembled. All primary components of the structural system will be in place prior to reopening Ninth Street. Structural engineers will be on-site during and after the assembly to assess the completed installation with the contractor prior to Ninth Street reopening.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Charles L. Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital. “St. John’s Hospital is working with general contractor O’Shea Construction, bridge fabricator Selvaggio Steel and the Illinois Department of Transportation to ensure safety for all during the installation of this sky bridge.”
Once the span over Ninth Street is put in place, the contractor will attach the span east of Ninth Street to the new medical office building. Ninth Street will then be closed again from Monday, April 16 from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Tuesday, April 17 while the concrete is placed for the bridge deck. The contractor will then install roofing, glazing and other exterior finishes. Once complete, the sky bridge will not require additional adjustments to its structural system.
Upon completion, the fully enclosed sky bridge will be 160 feet in length and 15 feet wide. The glass walls on each side will overlook the street and be supported by steel trusses and metal panels. It will connect both buildings at the third floor and will only be accessible from inside the building.
St. John’s broke ground on the new outpatient center for women and children in June 2017. It and the sky bridge are expected to open this fall.
