Three companies in running to build state prison

Michael Rovito/Frontiersman

The Mat-Su Borough and the Alaska Department of Corrections have narrowed their search to three companies vying to build the new state prison near Port MacKenzie.

The eventual contract winner will build the 1,536 bed prison the borough is calling the largest building project in recent state history.

Nesser Construction, Cornerstone/JE Dunn, and Hunt/Lydig/Kiewitt Pacific are in the running to build the prison officials expect to cost upwards of $200 million. The last two companies – Cornerstone/JE Dunn and Hunt/Lydig/Kiewitt Pacific - are joint ventures established to handle the enormity of the project, according to borough Purchasing Officer Russ Krafft.

The companies were picked after submitting a statement of qualifications showing their experience and past examples of work.

Kiewitt Pacific, for instance, handled Alaska projects like the Ted Stevens International Airport remodel and the Glenn Highway/Parks Highway interchange.

Krafft said companies in the running will spend the summer designing the prison facility they propose to build.

The eventual contractor is expected to be announced at the Oct. 21 Mat-Su Borough Assembly meeting, Krafft said.

He added the project is right where officials want it to be time wise.

“The project's moving,” Krafft said.

Ground breaking for the prison is expected to begin in the spring of 2009. Krafft said inmates should begin filling cells in 2012.

Contact Frontiersman reporter Michael Rovito at 352-2252 or michael.rovito@frontiersman.com.