Contract awarded for construction of new crime lab in Carthage

The Missouri Office of Administration has announced that it had awarded a contract to Federal Construction, Inc., for construction of the new Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Jasper County.

The work, which will be overseen by the Division of Facilities Management, Design and Construction, is expected to begin November 2009. The Highway Patrol's Crime Lab Division and the Division of Drug and Crime Control will use the building and are projected to move in July 2010.

This new building will be located adjacent to the Highway Patrol Troop D satellite office in Carthage, Mo. The new building will house the state's crime lab currently located on the Missouri Southern State University campus and will address overcrowding issues with the local Drug and Crime Control Unit.

The facility will be more secure and will improve operational efficiencies for the Highway Patrol as well as the numerous area law enforcement agencies that will use this regional facility.