Traffic, parking, tailgating could change due to UK Hospital construction. What to know

University of Kentucky students and employees who commute and tailgate near its hospital may soon need alternative routes and different parking.

Albert B. Chandler Hospital at 800 Rose St. will expand to house around 1,400 more beds. Also, a $580 million utility plant will be built on Hospital and University drives to support the hospital’s water, heating and cooling services.

Traffic delays in mid-June

Drivers going south on University Drive may face slow-downs as they pass the Johnson Student Recreation Center and William H. Pieratt Intramural Fields, between Complex and Cooper Drives.

“During this phase, both directions of traffic will transition to the northbound side of the roadway,” a news release from UK said.

To avoid potentially slower traffic on University Drive, drivers can use the nearest available main streets going north and south, including South Limestone and Sports Center Drive.

Those traffic changes will start in mid-June, but an exact date was unclear.

“UK Transportation Services is working to mitigate these impacts as efficiently as possible,” the university said.

Parking closures in mid-July

Over 800 parking spaces on the campus’ south end will be permanently gone starting July 13, according to the university.

University Drive Garage, or PS #1, and street parking outside the garage on Veterans Drive will close.

The university advised employees who used those spaces to instead park in the Kroger Field North Red Lot, on the corner of University and Cooper drives, and use street parking beside that lot on University Drive.

Students who use the Red Lot were advised to instead use the Sports Center Garage, at 721 Sports Center Drive, but it won’t open until just before the fall semester. It’ll have over 2,400 spaces, according to Walsh Turner, the healthcare construction company.

Football tailgate could move

The University Drive Garage is also a tailgating lot for football games.

Tailgaters may be moved to the Yellow lot and the Black/Green Garage on Complex and Sports Center drives, according to Jake Most, a UK Athletics spokesperson. Alternatively, some people might receive pass upgrades, Most said.

The K Fund office, which fundraises for UK Athletic Department, is reportedly working with pass holders on relocating.

Employee parking permits

Workers can buy or maintain an employee periphery permit to park in the Red Lot. These employees can also park in Kroger Field’s Orange, Blue and Green lots; and lots on Commonwealth Drive and College Way. This permit costs $34 per month.

Employees can also purchase or continue to use an intermediate parking permit, which includes campus-wide options for $42 per month.

Reporter Jon Hale contributed to this story.