Vic General is losing several trees for 57 parking spots. Island Health says 23 go back in

The chainsaws come first, then the spots. Work started Monday on the northwest side of Victoria General Hospital to add 57 public parking spaces, and getting there means clearing several trees.

Island Health says it finished the environmental assessments and will replant 23 trees as part of the project. Whether that math feels like a fair trade probably depends on how long you've circled the lot looking for a space.

The build is phased, so roughly 15 spaces go offline at a time. Traffic controllers and signage will steer cars around the work, and access to the main entrance and emergency department stays open the whole way through. Island Health is asking patients and visitors to leave extra time, or arrange a drop-off, until the work wraps in late fall.

Vic General isn't the only site under construction. Work started this month at Saanich Peninsula Hospital on about 100 new stalls, backed by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital & Healthcare Foundation.