If you feel the ground shaking next time that you’re near the gym, chances are good that it’s not going to be an earthquake.

It’s more likely to be the rumbling of earth-moving machinery working on the new three-story parking structure which will be completed in about 18 months.

“The fact that you guys are getting a new parking structure is pretty kick-ass cool,” said VCCCD Chancellor Jamillah Moore. 

Upon completion in spring 2014, the parking facility will offer an additional 743 parking spaces to students in the lower campus, according to Director of Facilities, Maintenance & Operations John Sinutko in an email interview. 

Auxiliary Lot A is intended to be closed once the project is complete, changing the total spaces available to students from 3,842 to 4,253. 

The structure will house a permanent facility for the Moorpark College campus police, which currently operates out of a trailer. 

In March 2002 citizens in Ventura County approved Bond Measure S, allocating $356.3 million to the district. This will be utilized only for construction and rehabilitation of facilities. The measure contributes to the funding of the $16,390,412 parking structure project. 

During the construction, no vehicular traffic will be permitted on roadways south of the gym. Students will now need to use Campus Road to access lower lot G, which is located on the southeastern part of campus, just north of the field hockey stadium.

Students can take the roadway north of the gym to access the Golf Parking lot. Additionally, a pedestrian traffic route will extend between the south side of the Gymnasium and the PE Annex Buildings.

Students who were used to parking in the area displaced by the construction site are being diverted to the practice football field where 210 parking places are available.  The change is sure to alter the daily traffic pattern for many regular patrons of the parking lot. 

“It’s going to be a pain,” said Casey Halliburton, 29, majoring in interior design.