The new VA medical center’s imposing presence draws glances from drivers passing through northeast Louisville and is expected to grow even larger as construction work on the 34-acre site along Brownsboro Road and Interstate 264 is not yet complete.
In preparation for the opening of the massive campus, city and state officials are working to address expected increases in energy use and vehicle traffic. Here are some things you should know about the hospital and other nearby projects.
When will the new VA hospital open?
Construction of the Louisville VA Medical Center is scheduled to be completed in “early 2026,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Authorities held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site on November 11, 2021, The Courier Journal previously reported.
On Monday, crews began work installing utilities, building part of a parking structure and installing a water tower, according to a construction update posted online by the VA. Crews will continue this work and complete other tasks over a two-week period.
More about the new VA hospital: What is that big building under construction on Brownsboro Road? Here’s what you should know
Are they changing the roads around the new VA hospital in Louisville?
Yes the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is leading an effort to widen the Watterson Expressway from two to three lanes at Brownsboro Road and improve traffic flow on I-264 between the Westport Road and Interstate 71 interchanges, among other projects.
Construction work on I-264 and Brownsboro Road could begin in 2025, but an exact start date has not been determined due to an ongoing effort by LG&E to relocate utility poles and wires where a new road would be. LG&E plans to relocate all poles by January 2025, according to project documents.
Plans are also underway to build a new electrical substation, which will be built along Brownsboro Road near northbound I-71. Officials said the substation is expected to be completed in October.
In a statement about your websiteLG&E recognized the VA hospital as an “important factor” in building a new substation, but the company was not the only reason for it.
“The hospital – and its expected energy needs – must be factored into our long-term plans for the area,” officials said. “This part of Jefferson County is growing rapidly, with new developments on the horizon. New investments in substations and circuits are needed to support this growth and further reinforce our system to ensure we continue to provide safe, reliable power for years to come.”
More: How to Stay Safe During Louisville’s Latest Summer Heat Wave
Will there be parking at the new VA hospital in Louisville?
A bigger hospital means more parking. The VA said there would be 2,600 parking spaces at the new location, about 1,000 more than the existing one. Robley Rex Medical Center.
Reporter Lucas Aulbach contributed. Contact reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@gannett.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter
This article originally appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: New Louisville VA Hospital: Details on opening date, road construction
