UK Hospital Expansion Forces Parking, Traffic Changes Starting in June
LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky's Albert B. Chandler Hospital expansion is now underway, bringing significant disruptions to campus transportation and parking as early as mid-June.
The expansion and its supporting infrastructure projects are expected to raise the medical campus's bed count to approximately 1,400 once complete, significantly expanding UK HealthCare's capacity to serve the Commonwealth. Currently, thousands of patients annually are turned away because existing facilities operate at capacity.
Beginning in mid-June, southbound University Drive between Cooper and Complex drives will close to allow relocation of underground utilities. Traffic on both directions will be shifted to the northbound side of the roadway during this phase, with adjacent parallel parking also eliminated.
More significantly, the University Drive Garage (PS #1) will permanently close July 13 to facilitate construction of a new Central Utility Plant. The closure will eliminate 812 parking spaces. Parking on Veterans Drive adjacent to the garage will also disappear.
To compensate for the loss, UK will convert the Kroger Field North Red Lot and University Drive on-street parking spaces south of Cooper Drive—totaling 842 spaces—to employee periphery parking. Displaced employees may retain employee intermediate permits at $42 per month for campus-wide parking or switch to employee periphery permits at $34 monthly, restricted to the North Red Lot, Orange Lot and adjacent on-street spaces.
Student parkers previously using the Red Lot will be relocated to the expanded Sports Center Garage, scheduled to open before the fall 2026 semester begins.
The $580 million utilities infrastructure project includes a new central utility plant and distribution system to support the hospital's growth along with other major campus construction projects. The project was recently approved by the Kentucky Legislature's Capital Projects and Bonds Oversight Committee.
UK Transportation Services urged permit holders to monitor updates throughout the summer. Those needing information can subscribe to UK Transportation Services' e-news, follow on X or Instagram, or email transportation@uky.edu.