$223 Million Expansion at Coyote Ridge Under Way

CONNELL, Wash. — Work is under way on a $223 million expansion project at Coyote Ridge Correctional Center that will nearly quadruple the size of the facility.

The expansion includes construction of a new medium-security facility that will add 1,793 beds at the prison. The facility is expected to open in 2008 and will house inmates serving no more than a four-year sentence.

About 500 new positions will be created and an additional $500,000 will be brought into the tax base during construction, according to officials. Once construction is completed, about $150,000 will be brought into the local economy annually, officials say.

Integrus designed the building under a fast-track design schedule that allowed the contractor to start construction before the design was completely finished.

A 100-bed segregation unit, recreation building, food services and mental health building, classrooms, correctional industries building, a warehouse, and inside and outside administrative building will also be built. A total of 22 buildings will be located at the site once construction is complete.