Site preparation work for the new $334 million 153-bed Comox Valley Hospital is bringing improvements to pedestrian routes around the site.
“Enhancing and increasing pedestrian walking paths is an objective of the North Island Hospitals Project,” said Tom Sparrow, Chief Project Officer. “We want the new Comox Valley Hospital to be fully integrated into the community. Well designed walking paths support healthy lifestyle choices which form a key part of VIHA’s purpose and vision.”
A new wheelchair- accessible walkway is now open, running along the boundary between the North Island College and the new hospital site. This 275-metre walkway offers pedestrians a new relaxing, landscaped route to and from the Lerwick/Ryan road area, as well as improved access to North Island College facilities and the Comox Valley Aquatic Centre.
“I am pleased that this project is moving forward with site preparatory work,” said Comox Valley MLA Don McRae. “The community has already welcomed the development of the new Comox Valley Hospital, which will provide the highest quality care for families right here in the Valley, and I know that as people see work get underway that enthusiasm will only grow stronger.”
As of Aug. 5, the section of existing walkway between the soccer field and the hospital site was decommissioned because it runs through the hospital construction site.
Meanwhile, a new wheelchair-accessible walkway to and from Lerwick Road – stretching around the hospital site soccer field – will offer another alternate route when it opens in October. Construction of this walkway area will temporarily block access to the hospital site soccer field from Queneesh Elementary School, during which time the field will be accessible from Lerwick Road. Access to the soccer field from the school will resume in October.
– North Island Hospitals Project
