Grossmont College will start construction next week of a $24.5 million, three-story, 1,432-space parking structure that will include a campus police station.

Developments Proposition R construction: One major remodeling and three construction projects at Grossmont and Cuyamaca colleges are under way or will start soon. Parking garage: Breaking ground next week at Grossmont College for a $24.5 million, three-story parking garage that will include a campus police station. The others: $9 million remodel of the exercise science and wellness complex and $36 million construction of a health and physical sciences complex at Grossmont College and $25 million construction of a business, computer and information science building at Cuyamaca College. On the horizon: Final approval is pending on the proposed $4.1 million expansion of the library at Cuyamaca College and $25 million expansion of the student services and student center buildings at Grossmont College.

The El Cajon college expects the $9 million remodel of the exercise science and wellness complex to be completed this summer. The two-building facility will include locker rooms, training and other facilities.

Grossmont College also plans to break ground this fall on a $36 million health and physical sciences complex. The facility, which will house allied health and nursing programs, is expected to open in spring 2010.

At Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, construction will begin this fall on a $25 million business, computer and information science building. It is scheduled to open in spring 2010.

The four projects are among the last of the major renovations and new construction that East County voters approved in 2002 on Proposition R, a $207 million bond measure.

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District plans to use the remaining Proposition R money to expand the student services and student center buildings at Grossmont College and the library at Cuyamaca College. The governing board has not given final approval to these projects.

To date, seven new, high-tech buildings have been built at the two colleges with Proposition R money.

The district has paid for most projects with a combination of state funds and the money raised through the sale of Proposition R bonds. The district was not eligible to receive state funds for the parking garage at Grossmont College because the state does not pay for parking facilities, officials said. The garage will be paid solely with Proposition R money.

Parking has been an issue for years at Grossmont College. The student population is projected to reach 20,000 by 2015. About 18,569 enrolled last spring.

“The parking situation is stressed to the point that without additional capacity, the college would not be able to grow,” district Chancellor Omero Suarez said at a ceremonial groundbreaking two weeks ago.

Lot 5, which has 800 parking spaces, will be closed during construction of the garage at Grossmont College.

Students will be allowed to park elsewhere on campus but staff, faculty and administrators will be required to use a district-leased lot near Gillespie Field. The district will pay for a shuttle to take people who use that lot to and from Grossmont College. Some employees whose jobs require them to move in and out of the college in a hurry, such as district computer technicians, will be allowed to continue parking on campus.

The Associated Students of Grossmont College plans to encourage students to car-pool, take a bus and ride bikes to get to school to avoid overcrowded parking lots next year.

As a show of its support for the faculty and staff members who will be taking the shuttle, the student government office has bought “Student First” lapel pins for them to wear.

Leonel Sanchez: (619) 542-4568; leonel.sanchez@uniontrib.com