Many Projects Are Under Way
There’s a lot happening in Jasper County…quite a few long-term projects under way, so it’s time for an update.
Work is progressing on extending the truck route around Monticello, several bridge replacement projects, a new city gas/electric building, a new food bank, a huge jail renovation/expansion and the replacement for Water’s Bridge on Hwy. 212 over Jackson Lake.
The Jasper County Jail (top photo) is undergoing a $10 million expansion/renovation. The $10 million project includes adding 37 new jail bed spaces, increasing the total bed space to 101 beds. Sixteen of the new beds are for females, raising the total bed space for females from eight to 24; 14 are new maximum security beds, one is a padded bed space and a much needed six bed positive pressure medical unit is also included.
The positive pressure medical bay space allows for a separate ventilation system for the medical unit, an important piece in today’s ?ght against Covid and other infectious illnesses. Sheri? Pope explained that over time having a medical unit will not only better serve those who are housed, it can help keep medical costs down, telling me the current operating budget of $76,000 annually for medical costs can disappear with one hospitalization.
The 15,0000 square foot addition that will attach to the side of the jail and the 3,600 square feet of renovated space near the back of the jail will take the jail from its current 20,000 square feet to a total of 35,000 square feet. The new building addition will include an administrative building to house a secure evidence storage room, a new armory space, a 24 hour seven days a week administrative o?ce space for patrol deputies, a space for records and a training room.
While construction is under way, deputies are working around the construction, which they will continue to do throughout the project, according to Sheriff Donnie Pope.
The female inmates are currently being housed elsewhere, and there may come a time that the male inmates will also be moved, but it is not anticipated to be for a long time.
The project is on a fast track, as it is slated to be complete next May.
The city has poured the footers for its new building (bottom photo) which will house its electric and gas departments. It is anticipated to be complete by November.
The building is 60×160 with a concrete foundation. It is being built on city property on Hwy. 83 north of Monticello.
Advertising for bids for the new 7,000 sq.ft. food bank to be built on Freedonia Road is slated to begin next week. That process will take about a month, and after a contractor is chosen, it will probably take a few weeks to mobilize. Ken Horton, chair of the Jasper County Community Food Bank, said Food Bank volunteers will handle clearing the remainder of the land as well as a lot of other items to cut down on price.
There won’t be a completion date estimated until the contractor is chosen.
Robert Rowland with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) says that the truck route, extending Hwy. 380 a little further around the city, will be complete at the end of September this year. That leg of the route goes from Hwy. 16 east to Hwy. 83 north. A round-about on Hwy. 83 north is nearing completion, whereas the intersection with Hwy. 16 is not as far along.
The road is designed to be a truck route to hopefully get many of the large trucks off the Monticello Square.
Proponents of the road are quick to call it a truck route, and not a bypass, as community leaders want tourists coming through town, while reducing the truck traffic.
Four bridges in the county are slated for replacement, with the county seeking bids for the work. Bridges on Aldridge, Cook, Gay, and Greer, will be replaced. In addition, Water’s Bridge over Jackson Lake, is slated for replacement, but no information was available on the status early this week.
Other bridge projects include two bridges on Hwy. 83 north, which are still on the drawing board, as well as a bridge at the Monroe County Line, over the Ocmulgee, and one on Hwy. 11 south.
Besides these projects, the Jasper County Charter School System is finishing up a huge renovation project at Jasper County Primary School (see related story, front page). That project brought much improved lighting, new windows, floors and paint, as well as kitchen equipment, to the primary school.
A roof project at the high school was recently completed as well.
And the schools will be looking at more projects as growth in the county is filling up the schools, and soon more will be required.
