The University of Toledo and the Ohio State Highway Patrol will hold a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a $6.5 million shared facility near the university's campus.

The Safety Center, on the southwest corner of Dorr Street and Secor Road across the street from campus, replaces the university’s police department offices in UT’s Transportation Building and the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s post on Airport Highway near Swanton.

“We saw an opportunity to be more cost-effective and build one state-of-the-art facility together, instead of two separate buildings,” UT Police Chief Jeff Newton said in a prepared statement. “Our new space will accommodate about 100 employees and provide more comfortable meeting space for those in need of police services; improved processing, management and storage of evidence; and better officer-wellness features like a fitness area and locker rooms with showers.”

The university contributed $3.75 million to the project. An additional $2.75 million came from the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Ohio Highway Patrol.

The project is expected to be completed by December, 2020.

First Published November 13, 2019, 7:26 p.m.