Patients and staff travelling to NHS Grampian’s flagship hospital have been urged to take the bus for the next seven months as the project to build a new £10.73million visitor car park begins.
As work on the new 1,000-space, multi-storey facility at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary officially commences today, doctors, nurses and all visitors to the hospital have been urged to find alternative travel methods during the lengthy construction period.
The existing visitor car park will be closed, and while work is ongoing much of the adjacent staff tarmac will be given over to the construction team.
However, a “small number of visitor spaces” will be maintained.
It is hoped the new facility will be completed in July next year.
Because of the significant drop in the number of parking spots, NHS Grampian has asked anyone going to ARI to park off site, arrange lifts or use public transport to ensure those most in need of a spot manage to find one.
A spokesman for NHS Grampian said that although the closure is unfortunate, once completed the new development will make life much easier for families travelling to ARI to see their sick relatives in their time of need.
The spokesman said: “NHS Grampian recognises the reduction in parking will cause some disruption and inconvenience in the short term and would like to thank patients, visitors and staff for their cooperation and flexibility during this time.
“In the long term, the new multi-storey car park will make it easier for patients and visitors to access the site and will have numerous benefits, including greatly enhancing the smooth running of wards and clinics.”
The new development has been made possible thanks to a donation of £10.73million from Sir Ian and Lady Helen Wood’s charity, the Wood Foundation.
Currently there are only 748 spaces at ARI, despite the hospital receiving around 5,000 visits a day.
North-east MSP Lewis Macdonald said that the 11 months of disruption will be worth the wait.
Mr Macdonald said: “This is the price we have to pay to improve the situation in due course.
“I think it’s very important that local residents are protected, because I’m concerned people will park outside nearby homes.
“And the advice to take the bus is good advice for those that can, but of course for many people that will be difficult.
“But I think the development is good, it’s something that has been required for a while.”
