The Bridge Renewal Project, a critical infrastructure project to restore and replace aged structures and upgrade utilities beneath the Medical Campus, will begin impacting the St. Louis Children’s Hospital circle drive and the Wohl Circle driveway off Children’s Place starting Saturday, May 2.
To prepare, the Emergency Department parking area will be closed Wednesday night, April 22, at midnight through Thursday morning, April 23, at 8 a.m. The ambulance bay and main ED entrance will remain open. Patient drop off can continue adjacent to the ambulance bay or in the circle drive. Dedicated trauma surgery parking will be available next to the SLCH visitor garage.
The multi-phase effort starting May 2 will begin with a 3.5-month closure of the SLCH circle drive to install a new stormwater management system.
- Construction fencing and barricades: Begin May 2
- SLCH circle drive closure: May 2–Aug. 17
- Reopening of SLCH circle drive: Aug. 17
During this phase, traffic patterns will be adjusted to allow vehicles to turn around and exit in front of the SLCH Emergency Department entrance.
What to expect during the May 2–Aug. 17 phase:
- SLCH visitor garage entrance and exit will remain open.
- Pedestrian access to Northwest Tower and SLCH buildings will remain open.
- Pedestrians will be routed around the north side of the SLCH circle.
- Sidewalk closed on the north side of the Central Services Receiving Building (CSRB).
- Vendors will not be able to deliver or park on Children’s Place.
- Temporary staff pick-up and drop-off locations will be available at:
- North side of the McDonnell Pediatric Research Building.
- Parkview Tower.
What’s Next:
Once stormwater piping installation is complete and the SLCH circle drive reopens on Aug. 17, work will shift south to the Wohl Bridge area. This next phase will affect:
- The north entrance and exit of Wohl Hospital
- The sidewalk on the north side of the CSRB
Additional details about these impacts will be shared in the coming months.
About the Bridge Renewal Project:
WashU Medicine and BJC launched the Bridge Renewal Project in 2022 to address:
- Water infiltration in campus tunnels
- Restoration and replacement of aged structures
- Upgrades to utilities beneath campus
This critical infrastructure initiative is scheduled to run from May 2026 through 2029. The work in Wohl Circle marks the first phase, beginning with the installation of a new stormwater management system beneath the SLCH circle drive and the Wohl Bridge.
Questions?
If you have any questions, please contact John Hardin, Senior Project Manager, at john.hardin@wustl.edu.
