Regina General Hospital parkade set to open, will provide 686 more parking spots

Regina General Hospital parkade set to open WATCH: The Regina General Hospital parkade is set to open, which will provide 686 more parking spots. Wayne Mantyka has more.

The grand opening of a new parkade at Regina’s General Hospital was celebrated on Thursday. Staff and visitors to the medical centre will be able to use the new facility on Monday.

The provincial government says the structure includes 320 public parking spaces on the ground level and 685 staff spaces on the other three levels for a total increase of 686 parking spots on the hospital’s property.

In all there is now 1,005 parking spaces for patients, visitors and staff, according to the province.

Safety features in the parkade include cameras and motion-sensor lighting throughout the structure as well as a “duress system” on all levels that provides a fast way to call hospital security in the event of emergencies of safety concerns, the province said in a release.

Those using the parkade will also be able see how many parking spaces are still available through a “stall count display” at the parkade’s entrance. There will also be six electric vehicle parking stations for staff and four for visitors, the province said.

"I am very honoured to be a part of the historic grand opening of the new parkade at Regina General Hospital and thankful we could provide a safer, more convenient parking option for everyone visiting the facility," Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said in the release.

In total the province says it invested $22.4 million for the parkade’s construction.