WINSTON-SALEM -- The Veterans Affairs Clinic and Annex in Winston-Salem closed Friday afternoon as staff members begin working to set up equipment in their new Kernersville facility.

Like many veterans, Kent Riddle has utilized the Veterans Affairs clinics after serving his country. He recently had his knee replaced at the Salisbury location.

"I use the VA all the time,” said Riddle. “Especially [during] the last 10 years."

For years, veterans in the Triad area had to go to Winston-Salem, Salisbury or Durham for various treatment. However, that's now changed for the 24,000 veterans that use the Winston-Salem clinic.

Brent Erickson is the Kernersville VA Clinic administrator.

"The current clinic that we have right here, we've actually outgrown it,” said Erickson. “We need to get into a place when we can service more of our vets and be able to provide more specialties."

The new Kernersville clinic will open Tuesday off Kernersville Medical Parkway.

Shanna Reece with the Servant Center, an organization that helps homeless veterans, says the new facility will save them money.

Currently, they transport nearly two dozen veterans to Salisbury for medical care every week. That 50 minute drive will be shortened to about 15 minutes once the new facility opens.

Erickson says the facility will house primary care options with specialty services following throughout the near future.