Activity along Adams Blvd. shows progress in jail construction

BARTLESVILLE, Okla. - County officials were told Friday during a Washington County Correctional Facilities Authority meeting construction of the new jail is moving along nicely.

While those driving past the jail site — located at the 600 block of SW Adams site in Bartlesville — may find it to appear only as a dirt lot inset with a grid of concrete with rebar protruding into the sky, batter boards signal a new phase in construction is about to begin — pouring the slab.

The pouring of the slab — a three phase process — will begin around August 10, project manager Lewis Donnell told the members of the Washington County Correctional Facilities Authority during the meeting.

"It looks like they they'll be pouring within the next 10 to 12 days," said Donnell.

All phases should be complete by mid-September.

"I think we are pretty right on schedule," he said, explaining that while the project is behind in what he calls the yard work — work involving sewer lines and pipes — the delay will not affect the end schedule.

"We are ahead on some of the grade beams and the piers," he said, saying that some piers now in place were not due to be set until August.

On Monday, workers will be putting down a vapor barrier and termite treatment underneath.

The 40,000 square foot, 220 bed detention facility, approved by voters during a bond election held last summer, should see completion within a year-and-a-half as originally estimated by Atlas General Contractors.

Atlas's base bid at $7.825 million was the lowest of eleven bids opened Feb. 23.