SILVERDALE — Crews at Harrison Medical Center are beginning to build the parking garage at Harrison Medical Center-Silverdale as part of expanding the acute care hospital.

“This is great news for the residents of Kitsap County,” said David Schultz, market president, Peninsula Region, CHI Franciscan, in a press statement.

“Beginning to build the garage is a significant first step in CHI Franciscan’s commitment to Harrison Medical Center and the communities we serve. This step reinforces our promise to provide families with health care in the right time and in the right setting throughout the Olympic Peninsula.”

Construction crews begin the first phase of work on the Silverdale expansion project with building a new five story, 240,000 square foot parking garage. During the next few months, crews will work to prepare the site, erect a construction fence, clear trees, install erosion control measures and build the garage foundation.

As part of this initial construction phase, 37 existing parking stalls will be fenced off for utility work and construction parking. Visitors to the Silverdale campus will see added construction traffic, but no roads will be closed and all hospital entrances will remain open. Construction will be taking place 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday.

The popular Clear Creek Trail System will remain open throughout construction. Access to the Clear Creek Trail System from Myhre Road and Ridgetop Boulevard will remain available. A portion of the trail will be rerouted around the construction site and access to the trail from the hospital parking lot will closed.

The expansion of Harrison Medical Center will accommodate the health care needs of the growing communities in Kitsap County and the great Olympic Peninsula. Silverdale provides a centralized location for acute care services in the Peninsula, with room to provide greater access for patients. Harrison Medical Center-Bremerton will be repurposed and continue to serve its residents as an outpatient and ambulatory clinic.