Bledsoe Prison Groundbreaking

PIKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Department of Correction held a groundbreaking ceremony today for the new state-of-the-art Bledsoe County Correctional Complex.  The prison expansion in Pikeville, Tennessee was first announced in 2004 based on population projections which indicated the need for additional beds.

The new facility will have the capacity to house more than 1,444 inmates and create approximately 500 new jobs for Bledsoe and surrounding counties.

"I want to thank Governor Phil Bredesen, members of the General Assembly, and the State Building Commission members for supporting a project that will bring jobs to the area and will enhance public safety for all Tennesseans," said Commissioner Gayle Ray.

The new prison will house minimum, medium and maximum-security inmates and will be located adjacent to the existing Southeastern Tennessee State Regional Correctional Facility.

Construction is expected to be completed in September 2012 with the first inmates to be housed in January 2013.  The construction cost is approximately $144,000,000.