PHARSALIA – The Chenango County Department of Public Works is making strides in a multi-million dollar cell development project at the county landfill in the Town of Pharsalia, giving officials reason to be hopeful the project will be completed by late 2015.

A resolution authorizing solicitation of bids for construction of a new cell a the landfill was adopted at the December meeting of the County Board of Supervisors. According to Director of Public Works Shawn Fry, the nearly $3.5 million project is on track to start construction in the spring, weather permitting.

Bids for the project went out last week, said Fry, and county officials will start opening bids on Jan. 23.

The newest cell will be the fourth solid waste cell at the county landfill. Last year, the county authorized a $249,700 agreement with Barton and Loguidice, a Syracuse-based planning and engineering firm, for design and development of the new cell. That contract also encompasses bidding assistance, administration, construction inspection and construction certification services.

Although use of cell four may not be needed for another two to three years, the aim, explained Fry, is to have it ready for use beforehand in order to address any problems or concerns pile up.