Northwestern Bronx residents will soon have a new, state-of-the-art EMS station serving them next year.

Officials announced Wednesday that the new station will be built at 243 East 233rd St. They hope the new facility will improve emergency response times and decrease congestion at other EMS stations within the region.

The station will be built on the site of a closed firehouse. Ladder Company 39 had formerly called the 100-year-old building home, but the station was shut down for its poor condition.

Officials say construction will begin in the fall of 2008. The project is expected to cost the city $12 million.

Some residents say they are disappointed that the decision was not made to build a new firehouse.