NEWRY – Officials at Sunday River ski resort announced Wednesday that they would build a $7.2 million combined chair and gondola lift this summer for use later this year.

Called a Chondola, the lift has chairs that can carry six riders and enclosed gondola cars that are spaced at intervals along the chairlift cable.

A statement by the resort said it would be the first of its kind in the Northeastern U.S.

It will carry skiers and snowboarders from the South Ridge Base Area to the summit of North Peak, a location from which six of Sunday River’s eight peaks are directly accessible, the statement said.

The lift is being manufactured by Doppelmayr CTEC, an aerial lift manufacturer based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. It is slated to be open to the public in the winter of 2008-2009, pending state approvals.

“This innovative lift system is an initial step in delivering on a vision for Sunday River,” Dana Bullen, Sunday River general manager said in a statement.

“This is much more than a ski lift, it will transform how Sunday River interacts with guests in all four seasons. The transformation will be seen at all levels of the resort in coming years. This is just the beginning.”

Boyne Resorts, the Michigan-based parent company of Sunday River, intends to invest $14 million this summer at its facilities.

Boyne also operates Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley and Loon Mountain in Lincoln, N.H.

“In the last year, much has changed in the New England ski scene,” said Stephen Kircher, president of Boyne Resorts’ eastern operations. “We’re proud that Sunday River is now on its way to reaching its full potential. Our commitment to and respect of the resort and community continues and we remain focused on local stewardship.”

Loon Mountain and Sugarloaf are also in line for significant investment in the coming seasons.

Alex Kaufman, a Sunday River spokesman, said a Maine Department of Environmental Protection permit appeared to be moving forward.

The lift was first presented to the Newry Planning Board in February and approved by that panel last week, Kaufman said.