After four years of hoping and planning, City of Troy Public Works employees should be in a new building by the year’s end.

“We are in a building that was probably built in the late ‘40s,” said Vaughn Daniels, public works director. “Our needs have changed.”

Daniels said the department works out of several buildings now, with a break room and storage area being in different buildings than the office.

The new building is estimated to be more than 15,000 square foot and will allow all operations to be under one roof.

“It will allow us to upgrade our mechanic shop and offices,” Daniels said. “It will allow us to be more efficient.”

The city opened the bidding process in late December and there will be a pre-bid meeting at the build site on Hudson road on Jan. 16. Bids will be opened at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 at City Hall.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” Daniels said, adding that he and other Public Works employees will be more excited after a bid is accepted.

The architect for the project is Goodwin Mill and Cawood Inc. of Montgomery. The architect’s cost analysis for the project puts the possible bid price near $1 million.

“For the library project, the bids came in a lot lower than estimated. We’re hoping we’re in the same category there. We hope that happens for us, too,” Daniels said.

If the bids are too high, the city council has the option to reject all bids.

Daniels said first discussions of a new building happened about the same time he took on the role of public works director. He explained talks became more serious about two years ago and the project became a reality when the city sold the old armory to the Board of Education. It was then that funds were placed in reserve for a new public works building.

The new public works office will be built next to the city’s recycling center.

“The design of the building will lend itself to expansion if necessary,” Daniels said. “As the city grows there is the possibility for us to grow as well.”