During Friday's broadcast of Alabama Public Television's "Capitol Journal," Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) commissioner John Hamm offered an expected update on the long-anticipated Elmore County mega-prison.
Approximately $1.3 billion in funding had been allocated for that facility and a similar one for Escambia County during a special session of the Alabama Legislature in 2021.
However, costs have far exceeded what had been anticipated in that 2021 special session, leading some to speculate that the ADOC will have to ask the legislature for more money for the Escambia County project.
Still, Hamm reported progress on the Elmore County counterpart, claiming a completion date in two years.
"Yes, sir. As far as total project, we're probably 25% complete," Hamm said. "We have a completion date of May 2026."
He continued, "So, we're looking forward to that. That's getting real close to two years, which to us does not seem like a very long time because of all the preparation that we have to do to transition into that facility in '26. So we're staying very busy with it, but as I've told them the day we were out there, there were probably 500 construction workers on the site. So there's a lot of activity out there."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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