VERONA  — After breaking ground in October 2021, the Upstate Cancer Center — originally slated for an early 2023 opening in a spot off New York State Thruway Exit 33 in Verona — is still under construction, and officials expect the center to be fully operational by the end of this year.

Once open, the Upstate Cancer Center will offer medical oncology, radiation therapy, surgical subspecialties, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, and consultative services similar to those found at the Upstate Cancer Center in downtown Syracuse.

This month, Darryl Geddes — a spokesman for SUNY Upstate Medical University — confirmed the project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 - Oncology is projected to open in July, and Phase 2 – Radiology is projected to open in September.

The 30,000-square-foot facility will bring comprehensive cancer care closer to home for residents of both Madison and Oneida counties.

In addition, the Verona site will be more than twice the size of the Upstate Cancer Center at Oneida, which will relocate to Verona when the new center opens.

Multiple areas had been considered for the project, but the location chosen at the corner of state Routes 365 and 31 had recently undergone an upgrade to its water and sewer systems.

“As for current work, exterior siding is progressing along with drywall, HVAC, cabling, electrical. Work on the vault for the linear accelerator (a device used for external beam radiation treatments) is underway with the expected date of the technology (being installed) in March,” noted a statement.