INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Wishard Memorial Hospital say they are ready to move ahead with building a new $754 million hospital in downtown Indianapolis after voters approved a referendum backing the project.

Unofficial results from the Marion County Election Board show that 83 percent of voters supported the proposal. That is with more than half the precincts counted from Tuesday's election.

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard called it a great result for the city.

Republican state Sen. Scott Schneider opposed the proposal, saying he is concerned Wishard will need additional county property tax revenue for the project.

Health and Hospital Corp. of Marion County president Matthew Gutwein says construction work could start in the spring. Wishard has the state's largest burn center and is a Level 1 trauma center.

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