Plans to redevelop King Edward VII Memorial Hospital have been approved by the Development Applications Board, bringing the project closer to fruition.

The DAB expressed some concerns about possible traffic problems caused by the design, but accepted that there was not enough traffic to cause regular problems.

In the plan, the new Botanical Gardens access road meets a new two-lane road at a corner very close to where the road meets the ambulance and emergency access off Point Finger Road.

According to the minutes from the DAB’s November 24 meeting, Richard Crossley from the Highway Section of the Department of Works and Engineering said problems would be uncommon because of a lack of traffic on the roads.

The minutes read: “Mr Crossley explained that the traffic volume to/from the gardens in this area (near Parks and Environmental Protection offices) is not high, nor is general hospital traffic or ambulance traffic at the level that conflicts would arise on a regular basis. Vehicle speeds would also be very low at this point.

“Concerns remained, and the board asked for an advice note to be added to the decision letter indicating that they request the Bermuda Hospitals Board and the applicants re-examine this internal intersection and determine if traffic management measures could reduce any potential conflict.”

The DAB unanimously approved the plan. The new hospital building which has an estimated cost of $315 million will offer oncology, dialysis and diabetes services, as well as 90 single-patient rooms.

The facility will be built, financed and maintained for 30 years by Paget Health Services.

Construction is expected to start this year, with the facility accepting its first patients in 2014.

The approved plans for the project are viewable online: www.pagethealthservices.com.