McKean County’s state troopers are expected to relocate to a larger, more technologically advanced barracks at the Bradford Regional Airport sometime next year.

“The main reason for moving is the need for more space,” said Ryan Tarkowski, communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police, who added that the current building is 5,319 square feet, and the new facility would be 8,896 square feet.

Since 1996, the police barracks has been located at 3178 U.S. Route 219 near Kane.

“The additional room will allow for specialty areas such as Megan’s law, forensics service units, motor carrier enforcement, vice units, (not saying ALL of these will be there… still too early to know specifics) and adequate evidence storage capabilities,” he said in an email to The Era. “There will also be technology and equipment upgrades to help keep our troopers and visitors safe.”

MBC Development of Schuylkill County was awarded a contract to construct the state police barracks in McKean County. MBC is the same company that has turned around the once-failing Bradford Mall property in Foster Township by bringing in such businesses as Sheetz and Taco Bell.

Tentative plans call for ground to be broken on the barracks in the spring and construction to be completed in the late fall, said Pat Higgins, director of development for MBC Development.

“We are excited about the project. We are currently going through the land development process to obtain our land development as well as other outside agency approvals,” Higgins said.

The current building is leased, and this site will be as well, Tarkowski said. The new location will be on Airport Road, but he said he doesn’t have an address yet.

This isn’t MBC’s first project for the state police. In 2016, MBC was awarded a contract to construct a new aircraft hangar for the state police on the grounds of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca, replacing a facility that had been at the Hazleton Regional Airport.