CRANBERRY TWP — A new training facility for the township’s fire, police and ambulance crews will be under construction later this year.

Tim Zinkham, Cranberry’s manager for engineering services, outlined the building and the construction timeline for the township supervisors Thursday evening.

The project, with an estimated cost of about $900,000, will be put up for bid in March with groundbreaking expected in May. Construction is expected to take six months and be completed by the fall.

“We tried to create a facility to meet their training needs,” Zinkham said.

The new 5,357-square-foot building will be near the public works facility, to the rear of the fire training tower and adjacent to the dog park.

Zinkham said the building’s facade will try to match the existing public works building. It will include a two-bay garage, training room, restrooms and a storage area.

“It will allow public safety to pull a vehicle into the building for training,” Zinkham said.

The training room will accommodate 120 people for educational sessions. It will also be set up so it can be partitioned into two areas that will allow 40 people and desks in each.

The supervisors hired the architectural firm of Ross, Schonder, Sterzinger, Cupcheck for $43,000 to design the building.

Bruce Hezlep, Cranberry Volunteer Fire Company president, said at Thursday night’s meeting the department is “thrilled” about the project moving forward after being planned since 2002.

“It will get well used. I guarantee it,” he said.