BRYAN COUNTY - When various Bryan County personnel and a group of architects and contractors put in over 350 hours of work on a project, you get the Bryan County Jail expansion and renovation.

"This is the initial layout where we develop the specifics of the layout, what we call the schematic design. And make sure it's coming within the target budget and we've just concluded that this week," Jim Langford, architect said.

The budget for the project was $3 million and after all the planning, they are estimating the cost to be around $2.7 million.

Right behind me is the current parking spot for some Bryan County employees, but it is also the same parking lot where the new part of the jail will be built.

"In addition to saving operating cost, by operating only one jail, we have much more or a bigger capacity in the new jail then what we do have in both jails combined," Monty Montgomery, Bryan County Commissioner said.

One of their primary goals is to increase the bed count from the current 62 to 120.

"The general accomplishment is to be able to take inmates that you're not able to put in jail, people that need to be sentenced that might be on the streets so they can be put where they need to be put," Langford said.

The project is tentatively set to begin construction later this year and should be complete in the spring of 2013.

"I believe that the whole city of Durant is excited and probably most of Bryan County is excited about this," Montgomery said. 

County Commissioners said they are looking to hire local construction companies for the project.

Kylie Dixon, KTEN News