Interior Health says the first phase of parking lot improvements at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail will start July 2.
According to the health authority, once complete, the project will add up to 38 new parking stalls and pave existing gravel parking areas, improving parking efficiency and accessibility across the site.
“Finding parking is often one of the first experiences people have when visiting the hospital,” said Lindsay Hetu, chief operating officer for the Kootenays and Boundary said in a news release.
“These parking lot improvements will add more stalls and create a more welcoming experience for everyone coming to our site. We are grateful for the patience and support of our community as this important work moves forward.”
The first phase of the parking lot upgrades will take place between July 2 and Aug. 31. The second phase will take place in the summer of 2027.
The work includes grading and paving, improved drainage infrastructure, enhanced lighting and security features, infrastructure to support future electric vehicle charging stalls, and preparations to create additional parking capacity.
During both construction phases, some hospital parking areas will be temporarily unavailable. To help offset these impacts, supplemental parking for staff will be available at J.L. Crowe Secondary.
The school parking lot will be available for staff parking, helping preserve parking at the hospital for patients and visitors. The staff parking area will be monitored by security, and signage and wayfinding will be in place to help direct people to available parking.
Additional off-site parking has also been secured for staff in downtown Trail. A shuttle service will be provided to staff between the downtown parking area and the hospital Monday to Friday, from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Patients and visitors are encouraged to continue parking at the hospital. While temporary impacts are expected during construction, the health authority says every effort is being made to maintain convenient access to hospital services throughout the project.
These improvements are part of the hospital’s MRI suite expansion.
