Dartmouth-Hitchcock received the go-ahead this week to build a $130 million expansion at its Lebanon, Vt., campus. According to an article in VGDigger, the new tower, which could have as many as 112 new beds, is expected to draw an additional 270 vehicles an hour to the state’s only academic medical center during peak morning and evening commutes.

Reporter Tim Camerato writes: “The Planning Board voted unanimously Monday to approve construction of the about 200,000-square-foot, five-story tower, which will sit at the existing northern entrance to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center…The building would include 64 new patient beds as well as “future ‘shell’ space” that could be used for 48 additional beds should the need arise, according to plans. DHMC, which currently has 396 licensed beds, has said it needs the patient tower to meet a growing demand for services.”