Bidding process under way for juvenile detention center expansion

As the 3-B Juvenile Detention Center gets ready to break ground on a big expansion, the bidding process is under way to see who will actually do the big project.

Bonneville County Commissioner Roger Christensen said he’s pleased with the way the bidding is going.

Christensen expected the expansion would cost about $200,000, but now he thinks it will actually cost about 15 to 20 percent less than that, based on the bids he’s received.

Idaho Falls-based Ormond Builders will manage the construction. Christensen hopes the sub-contractors will also be local.

“Most of the bidders were from either the Idaho Falls area — Blackfoot, Rexburg,” Christensen said. “It does help the local economy when we’re using local contractors.”

Construction should begin as soon as weather allows.