Tyler’s $35M jail expansion on track for August completion

TYLER – Construction on the six-story 87,000-sf expansion of Smith County’s central jail is nearing the final phases and is on pace for an August 2014 completion.

The $35 million, multiphase, 384-bed jail project will end transfers of inmates to other counties and will bring the jail system’s occupancy level to 1,139 from 755.

Phase 1 of the jail plan will wrap up soon. It includes revamping the jail system’s visitation, laundry and kitchen facilities. Video visitation, the laundry and kitchen facility have moved to the low/medium-risk facility off US 69 and Loop 323.

Phase 1 cost around $3.5 million for the 15,500-sf combination video visitation, kitchen and laundry area, for an average of $170 per sf. Phase 1 is expected to be completed February 18.

The downtown jail expansion will adjoin the downtown facility on the corner of Fannin Ave. and Erwin St. Adding 384 double-occupancy cells will cost $22 million, or $290 per sf. The project brings the downtown “high-risk” occupancy to 660.

Smith County has shipped inmates to as many as eight counties to comply with state jail occupancy standards since 2004 at a cost of more than $18 million.

Read more at the Tyler Morning Telegraph.