Watch CBS News

State Cancels Plans To Build New Fayette County Prison

UNIONTOWN (KDKA) -- The Corbett administration killed plans for a new 2,000-bed $200 million prison in Fayette County.

The reason was partly because of economics.

The administration put out a statement saying it would not spend $200 million unless absolutely needed and there are several prisons around Pennsylvania now underutilized

State Rep.Tim Mahoney, D-Uniontown, told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti he was stunned by the announcement.

He said it came as a complete surprise because every meeting he went to was positive.

Word that the prison would not be built is devastating to the Fayette County area.

"You have people who are without work looking for good paying jobs – what do you tell them now?" Mahoney said.

The prison plans were announced two-and-a-half years ago with much fanfare.

Mahoney said he wanted to meet with state officials to see if they would reconsider going forward with plans to build the prison.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.