Plans are moving forward for the construction of what could be a $148 million jail on the southwest side of Carlsbad, New Mexico.
The project belongs to larger Eddy County and has been long anticipated as local officials have talked about the inadequacies of the current Eddy County Detention Center at 201 N. Main Street, which have included a lack of adjacent space to build a facility expansion.
The Albuquerque-based architectural firm of Studios Southwest has taken on the design work for the new project, which will most likely be built near the Cavern City Airport.
As planned, the new facility will measure around 142,300 square feet. But it will be built with an eye to future expansion, depending upon the need. Studios Southwest has estimated that, based upon projections, the county may need to enlarge the facility over time by about 50,000 square feet.
The current detention center was built in 1994 at a cost of $3.2 million, replacing facilities that were located in the Eddy County Courthouse.
It is thought that work on the new detention center could begin early next year, with a December 2028 completion date.
April 10, 2025
By Garry Boulard
Image courtesy of Pixabay
