Construction is under way at the new Fayette County Prison site in Uniontown.
Uniontown, PA - Construction of the new Fayette County Prison is under way.
Fayette County Commissioners recently awarded the construction bids for the new prison, which will be located on the site of the former U.S. Army Reserve Center along McClellandtown Road in Uniontown.
The successful bidders were, as follows:
- Sitework Construction: Shallenberger Construction, Inc. - $1,799,660.00 base bid.
- General Trades Construction: Nello Construction - $24,767,000.00 base bid.
- Food Service Construction: Breckenridge Kitchen Equipment - $718,000.00 base bid.Fire Protection Construction: Interstate Fire Protection Co. - $935,500.00 base bid.
- Plumbing Construction: Vrabel Plumbing LLC. - $2,341,200.00 base bid.
- HVAC Construction: Hranec Mechanical - $2,987,000.00 base bid.
- Electrical Construction: Bob Biter Electrical Enterprises- $5,693,000.00 base bid.
Previously awarded project bids included:
- Asbestos Abatement: Canfield Development - $20,351.00 base bid.
- Demolition and site preparation: Ritenour and Sons - $87,000.00 base bid.
The awarded base bids amount to a total construction cost of $39,348,711.00, more than $4.6 million less than the previously estimated project cost.
Fayette County Commissioner Scott Dunn said he’s “personally anxious” to see the prison project move forward.
“There has been so much work to get to this point in the design and permitting. It’s always good to see any endeavor move forward,” Dunn said, adding that now “the dirt can fly.”
Commissioner Chairman Dave Lohr said the project is one he’s been working toward since before becoming a commissioner, so he’s glad to see it finally come to fruition.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes, from acquiring the property, to working with the architects and engineers to come up with a viable plan that meets the needs of inmates and staff, all while staying within our budget for the project,” Lohr said.
Lohr said, as with any major project, constructing a new prison is “a process” and will “take some time.”
“I’m excited to see this project come together because of the potential impact on the lives of our inmates. With this facility, we’ll be able to offer training and programs so that inmates leave our care with skills they didn’t have when they came to us,” Lohr said. “That’s a win for the inmates, but it’s also a big win for Fayette County.”
Commissioner Vince Vicites said the project is “right on schedule” and “in the most important, final phase.”
“We have a good team with our architects, engineers and construction managers helping us build this facility in the hopes of having it done by the spring of 2023,” Vicites said. “This is the largest public works project in the history of Fayette County government, and we have done everything we can to cut costs and meet the standard of Pennsylvania’s prison regulations.”
Moving forward, Vicites said, the county will continue doing its “due diligence” to ensure this project is successful and sustainable for future generations.
“By making on-site visits on a regular basis, we can make sure the project stays on schedule and within budget,” Vicites said. “We haven’t missed a single beat through the pandemic, and now we’re at the cusp of getting this long-anticipated, historic project done.”
To learn more about Fayette County, visit www.FayetteCountyPA.org.
Editor's Note: Photos attached (Fayette County Prison Demolition; Fayette County Prison Demolition2)
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This communication is part of the Fayette County PR Initiative, which is funded through the Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) and Hotel Tax Grants in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Rooker Kassimer, Public Relations Specialist, at 412-691-0262, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Kaylie Moore, Community Relations Coordinator, at 724-430-1200 Ext. 1611, kmoore@fayettepa.org.

