Preliminary work has begun at a city nursing home in preparation for the construction of a second elevator.

Robin J. Longo, the administrator of Willimansett Center East at 11 St. Anthony St., said this week that the facility "will be upgrading to a new elevator."

Longo said, "Essentially, there will be an addition off the main lobby of our building. We have identified the need for a second, more modern elevator here, and we will be refurbishing our other one."

Longo said the significant construction will have a temporary effect on the use of the center's front entryway on St. Anthony Street.

Once this has been done, excavation will be started for the elevator.

The timetable for the project is several months, and the front entryway will be temporarily out of use during the construction project.

All business deliveries, ambulances, chair van activity, FedEx, UPS mail deliveries, and other routine supply deliveries will be asked to use the rear entrance.

Longo said the back parking lot will be for visitors, construction vehicles, and deliveries only.

All staffers and any other consultants doing business at Willimansett Center East will be required to use the front parking lot and enter the building through the side or back door entryways.

"We realize the limited spaces available and hope to have alternative parking identified to compensate for the loss of the rear spaces," Longo said.

Longo was unable to specify the cost of the construction.

The center has a capacity for 85 residents, and a staff of 100.