The New River Valley Regional Jail is expanding to allow for hundreds more inmates and provide more than 100 new jobs.

The expansion includes new housing units, a new kitchen and a new state-of-the-art security system. It is scheduled to be complete by the beginning of January.

Superintendent Gerald McPeak says the project's guaranteed maximum price is $55.2 million.

The jail serves Bland, Carroll, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Pulaski and Wythe counties and the city of Radford. It is currently rated to hold 371 inmates but double-bunks to hold twice that number.

The jail was crowded with 755 inmates a few weeks ago, which was the most it has ever held at one time.

The expansion will add 488 beds, allowing it to hold 1,188 double-bunked inmates.

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