November 11, 2009

Carle North Parking Garage to Re-open Saturday, November 14

The North Parking Garage on the Carle Medical Campus in Urbana will re-open on Saturday, November 14, following restoration of the 30-year-old structure.  The deck had been temporarily closed in March to correct age-related wear and tear.  Later, hospital officials decided to move forward with a total restoration, giving the structure an additional 15-20 years of useful life.

Valet service for patients with disabilities will be available at the Hospital entrance, and at the South Clinic upon request.  Visitors and patients may continue to park free at the Champaign County Fairgrounds, with shuttle service to the Hospital between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. However, there will no longer be a designated parking area for patients and visitors at the Fairgrounds.

Hospital officials are grateful to the people visiting the hospital and clinic during this time.  “Although it was a significant inconvenience, our patients and visitors have been exceedingly understanding and gracious during this time span and we sincerely appreciated their patience and cooperation,” noted Scott Harding, vice president of Facilities.

The decision to go forth with a total restoration was made in June 2009 after a thorough evaluation of the parking garage by structural engineers and with the significant potential cost-savings associated with moving forward immediately, rather than waiting.  The initial renovation nearing completion at that time afforded only a couple of years of use until it would be necessary to either re-build or fully renovate the garage.

Since the construction crews and equipment were already in place and the public had become accustomed to the alternate parking system, it made the most practical sense to just move forward with a total restoration at that time, according to Bruce Roth, manager of Facilities.  “Fortunately, the unseasonably warm weather created an environment for this restoration to be completed on time,” he concluded.