Work getting underway on the new surgical tower at UNC Hospitals is causing road closures over the weekend around the hospital campus.

The new seven-story surgical tower will be built directly in front of the North Carolina Memorial Hospital.

The new tower is replacing buildings constructed in the 1950s that have smaller rooms and will offer patients larger and more modern operating suites. The tower will have 24 operating rooms, 56 pre and postoperative care areas and 56 intensive care unit beds.

Manning Drive will be closed between South Columbia Street and New East Drive between 8 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Monday both this weekend and November 9 – 12.

Chapel Hill Transit and GoTriangle will be detouring routes affected by the closure.

Construction of the new tower will consist of demolition of the pedestrian bridge connecting the Cardinal Parking Deck with Tarrson Hall and West Drive, according to a release from UNC Health Care.

Detours will be posted for vehicles and pedestrians.

The tower is expected to be completed in 2022 and will be the largest building on the UNC Medical Center campus.