BEATRICE, Neb. (AP) _ Construction has started on a $7.2 million expansion of the Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center.

The Beatrice Daily Sun reports (http://bit.ly/1Pgi8wh ) the project is expected to be completed within 12-15 months.

Eric Trusty, practice administrator for the Women and Children’s Clinic and the Physician Clinic, says the biggest headache of the project so far is that half of the employee parking lot has been torn up. But a temporary lot has been added.

The project will add 17,500 square feet of space to the hospital.

Trusty says everyone is excited about the additional space the project will provide.