Washington Prison Expansion Nearly Done

Alabama Cities Team Up for Shared Metro Jail

TALLADEGA, Ala. — County officials awarded a construction bid for the first phase of a $17 million metro jail project.

Inmates are expected to move into an expansion at Washington State Penitentiary this summer.

Canndauson Construction Inc. of Prattville, Ala., received $2.3 million to build Phase I of the project, which will include an administrative complex. Plans call for the eventual construction of a 378-bed housing unit.

Upon completion, the jail will be shared among Talladega County and the cities of Talladega, Sylacauga, Lincoln and Childersburg to help ease overcrowding in the city and county jail systems.

Officials are discussing funding options for the project with financial consultants, which will allow them to finalize the contract.

PH&J Architects of Montgomery is designing the jail.