A massive hospital expansion can move forward after Rockford City Council approved it last night.
Aldermen voted 12 to 1 in favor of MercyRockford Health System’s $485-million project. The campus will be located on the city’s far northeast side and focus on health care for women and children. It’s in addition to MercyRockford’s west side campus, which some fear will be abandoned in the expansion.
The city council vote was delayed by a week by Alderman Venita Hervey, who wants to make sure the city's underserved west side isn't hurt by moving medical resources to the far east side.
The project is one of the biggest construction jobs in the city's history.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Rockford Health Systems is an underwriter for Northern Public Radio.