A long-planned parking garage expansion for the downtown Bellevue Library should open later this year, easing parking woes faced by those who use the facility.

The garage will increase the parking capacity from 199 to 362 parking spaces, said King County Library Services Director of Facilities Management Services Gregory Smith.

“Patrons were being turned away (from the library) due to lack of parking,” he said.

The larger garage has been a part of King County Library System plans since 2004, when voters approved a capital program. The final product, a $11.3 million, three-story garage, will fill in the existing parking area, Smith said.

As of July, crews were continuing to work on the structure, and concrete for the first floor of the garage is expected to be poured soon.

In the mean time, parking has been scarce for library-goers with the current lot closed to the public, and only 50 spaces for parking in the Ashwood lot near the playfield next door. As construction continues, people are encouraged to use this lot.

Smith noted that some people will have to take public transit to the library, park somewhere else in the neighborhood or think about frequenting another library until construction is complete.