Construction for a new $130 million Eddy County Detention Center could start in early 2025, said Eddy County Public Works Director Jason Burns, and be complete in three years.

Tuesday Eddy County’s Board of County Commissioners approved an about $8.5 million contract with Studio Southwest Services of Albuquerque to start architecture and engineering work for the new jail located south of Carlsbad.

Burns said the Albuquerque firm provided services for Eddy County in past projects and meetings would start soon on plans and designs for the new Eddy County Detention Center (ECDC).

He said the current jail in downtown Carlsbad is landlocked and offered no room for expansion.

He said the new facility on Corrales Road near the Eddy County Sheriff ’s Office offered plenty of land.

“There is room for future growth and expansion,” Burns said.

He said construction would be done as a modified design-build project.

According to the Design Build Institute of America (DBIA), design- build is the fastest growing and most used project delivery method in the United States.

“Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI) projects design-build to represent over 47% of spending by 2026 and account for $1.9 trillion in construction spending nationwide over the next five years,” cited DBIA’s website.

Design-build was common in government and private sector construction projections, per DBIA.

Commission waiting for courthouse studies A new courthouse was part of the original plans for the jail and administration building.

Commissioners paused possible movement for the courthouse in June, said Savannah Cabezuela, Eddy County spokesperson.

She said a technical and feasibility report and an economic impact study are in the works for commissioners.

Cabezuela said the technical report would address issues with the current courthouse in downtown Carlsbad along with plans and estimates for a new courthouse.

During a series of town hall meetings in April, residents in both Carlsbad and Artesia expressed concerns on moving court offices and the Fifth Judicial District Attorney’s office to the proposed site south of Carlsbad.

“(The) economic impact study will provide information on the effects of keeping the courthouse in the downtown historical district or moving it to the south end of town,” she said.

Mike Smith can reached at 575-308-8734 or by email at msmith@currentargus.
com.