New Iowa Prison on Track Despite Rain

This is a rendering of what the new prison at Fort Madison, Iowa will look like. (Credit: HOK/Iowa Department of Corrections.

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Sep 7, 2010 at 9:38 AM CST

Story Updated: Sep 7, 2010 at 4:19 PM CST

FORT MADISON, Iowa (AP) - Work on a new maximum-security prison in Fort Madison is ahead of schedule despite all the year's rain.

The $130 million prison will replace the Iowa State Penitentiary that has segments dating back to 1839, seven years before Iowa became a state.

The Hawk Eye in Burlington reported Tuesday that since work began four months ago, 37 inches of rain has fallen on Fort Madison. But that isn't slowing the progress.

Prison spokeswoman Rebecca Bowker says 70 percent of the site work is finished, which includes work inside and outside a perimeter fence and reseeding.

Bowker says bid packages will be opened Wednesday to begin selecting a general contractor to oversee construction.

The prison is slated to begin housing inmates in 2014.

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