Wayne County Breaks Ground On $300M Jail

Jail Slated To Open In 2014, Replacing 3 Others In Area

DETROIT – Wayne County is moving ahead with construction of a new $300 million jail facility that's scheduled to open in 2014.

The 715,000-square-foot new Wayne County Jail will be located on the corner of Gratiot Avenue and St. Antoine (across the street from the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice).

Recommended Videos



With 2,192 beds, the new facility will consolidate prisoners from the two downtown jails as well as the Hamtramck jail.

It's slated to open July 2014.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday.

One new feature will be video visitation. No longer will prisoners have to be moved from their cells to see a visitor. From their cells and with the use of cameras and television screens, prisoners will see relatives and clergy in a separate, first-floor room.

Wayne County officials estimate that about 2000 to 2,500 jobs will be created by the project's end.

See More:Local News Headlines