People parking at Tauranga Hospital are being reminded to use Clarke Street car park as earthworks at the main entrance get underway today.

There had been a delay in starting earthworks to put a Lamson tube system underground across the Tauranga Hospital carpark, linking the hospital to the new Pathlab building on the 17th Avenue side of the campus.

Earthworks at Tauranga Hospital could cause some parking issues in the main car park. File photo.

The first phase of earthworks, across the main entrance to Tauranga Hospital, had been delayed to today, resulting in a finishing date of Sunday, October 18.

This work will be done overnight (8.15pm to 6am) to reduce disruption for patients and visitors. During daylight hours the entrance will be back to the usual two lanes.

The digging, laying and filling work will then journey across the campus, parallel to Cameron Road towards 17th Avenue and will take until mid-November to complete, says Bay of Plenty District Health Board CEO Phil Cammish.

Phil wants patients and visitors to try Clarke Street first rather than driving round and round the Cameron Road car park.

'There is a lift which connects the car park to the hospital and is available for those who can't climb the staircase.

'Clarke Street car park can be accessed from either 17th or 20th Avenues, and always has empty spaces so is a good first choice for patients and visitors.”