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Work On New Wayne County Jail To Halt For 60 Days

DETROIT (AP) - Work on a new jail in downtown Detroit will cease for 60 days while Wayne County officials look into projected costs overruns for the facility.

County Chief of Staff June Lee told county commissioners Thursday that an estimate by firms managing the project "came as a surprise and was unacceptable."

The latest estimate puts the cost at $391 million -- $91 million over budget. The 2,000-bed jail initially was to cost $220 million.

Early plans called for closing and consolidating the operations of the current three county jails into the new facility when it opens.

The county has had discussions with a company about acquiring the land where the new jail is being built and with the state about possibly leasing a former prison on Detroit's east side.

MORE: Will Wayne County's Jail Project Get The Death Penalty?

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