Patient parking at King’s Daughters Medical Center has becomeeven more constrained as the hospital’s extensive renovationproject expands into the back parking lot.

“We’ve got quite a parking challenge – even more so now thanbefore,” said JoAnna Sproles, a KDMC spokesperson. “Fortunately,it’s only a short-term inconvenience.”

Hospital officials closed the back parking lot late last week tobegin its renovations. The lot previously offered parking for 113vehicles and became the hospital’s primary parking lot foremergency room patients and guests when the renovation began nearlya year ago.

The new parking lot is expected to be completed in approximatelyone month. It will have seven less vehicle spots, but will includea helipad, Sproles said.

In the meantime, people needing emergency service will actuallybe parking closer to the doors than they have since construction onthe expansion building began, said Ronnie Killingsworth, directorof facilities and maintenance.

“We have designated parking in front of the education annex foremergency patients,” he said. “It’s the closest we can get them atthis point in time.”

Guests to the hospital are limited to parking in the front lot,which is adjacent to Highway 51, Sproles said.

Hospital employees and student interns have been redirected to atemporary gravel lot created on Highway 51, with entrances nearStar’s Auto Sales and Wand Feed Store, in order to create morespace in the front lot, she said.

While patrolling the front parking lot, department managers andsecurity guards will also flag employee vehicles to ensure itremains reserved for patients and guests, Sproles said.

While the new rear parking lot is expected to be open inapproximately one month, hospital officials expect otherrenovations at the hospital to continue for at least two moreyears.

“Parts of it will be functional, but we’re still looking atabout two years for final completion,” Killingsworth said. “We’llbe in the new building before they get completely through with allthe work.”

The original timetable for the construction put employees in thenew building by Dec. 31, but it now appears it will be some time inspring 2008 before that happens, he said.

“We’re about 11 weeks behind (schedule),” Killingsworthsaid.

He said several factors contributed to the delay, includingweather and design adjustments.