(Pueblo, CO January 28, 2010) – Beginning Thursday, February 4^th Grand Avenue will be closed between 16^th Street and 17^th Street. The closure comes as Parkview Medical Center nears the completion of the tower expansion project and improvements are being made to the street, curb and gutter in front of the medical center.

Northbound Emergency department traffic access on Grand Avenue will be uninterrupted. Northbound thru street traffic, will detour at 16^th Street. Southbound traffic will have to detour from 17^th Street, to Court Street and over to 15^th Street. The portion of Grand Avenue in front of the medical center is expected to remain closed for approximately eight weeks.

The first phase of the 6-story tower will open in spring, adding 27 private patient rooms to the medical center. The second phase, which is expected to open in early summer, will feature a new main entrance with an expanded lobby, an additional 27 new private patient rooms, as well as a conveniently located Gift Shoppe and Café. The new expansion will also include space to add an additional 27 private rooms in the future if the need for healthcare in the community continues to grow.

Parkview Medical Center is proud to be the region’s leader in providing healthcare as well as providing exceptional customer service, not only to patients and their families but also to the Pueblo community. “This expansion plan will enhance Parkview’s ability to provide the quality of care that Southern Colorado has come to expect when they enter our doors,” explained Mike Baxter, Parkview President and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are working very hard to make disruptions in the neighborhood as minimal as possible and we are looking forward to unveiling a state-of-the-art healthcare facility the entire community will be proud of,” Baxter concluded.