The new Bluffton Hospital Emergency Department entrance is now open. The entrance used in the past is now closed. That's the official word this week on the hospital construction progress.

Other construction updates this week include:

• Pouring concrete for the operating room floor
• Continuing the masonry of the walls in the operating room
• Beginning to set the roof structure
• Bringing down the overhead canopy at the traditional Emergency Room entrance
• Removing the asphalt in the old Emergency Room parking lot and removing storm sewers

The previous "No Parking" area along Garau Street will now be a "Loading/Unloading Zone" for delivery trucks. Signage is installed that correctly labels each parking lot.

Additional traffic slow downs due to construction equipment are expected. The contractors are doing all they can to minimize this disruption.