Plans Discussed for New Bledsoe Prison

State Department of Correction officials are meeting with contractors and engineers to answer question on a $160 million state prison project in East Tennessee.

The meeting Tuesday will discuss plans for a new 1,444-bed prison in Bledsoe County, close to the Southeastern Tennessee State Regional Correctional Facility. A correction spokeswoman says that the design must accommodate wetlands on the prison property. Officials are hoping to announce bids in the 2011-12 budget year and open the prison in 2013.