BANGOR (AP) – The state has given the green light for a $250 million expansion of inpatient care facilities at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

The Bangor hospital said it got word Thursday from Health and Human Services Commissioner Breanda Harvey that a certificate of need for the project has been approved.

The project includes added capacity for critical care and cardiac patients in private rooms, new surgical suites, consolidated and enhanced Heart Center space and a new floor for women and infants.

The hospital said groundbreaking is expected to take place late next year and the work will take about three years to complete.