Weld County commissioners this week awarded a contract to Roche Constructors Inc. for the construction of a new regional crime lab.
Roche, based in Greeley, was the lowest among three bidders for the project, which is estimated to cost about $4 million. Design and contractor fees will be about $400,000, according to the bid.
Tom Roche, company president said he tentatively expects to break ground on the lab this October . The lab will be located in the highpoint business park near the intersection of U.S. 34 and state Colorado 257 and is expected to be completed by September 2013.
The proposal outlined plans for a 20,000-square foot facility on three to four acres of land. The complex includes a drive-through garage/alley port, offices, storage areas and laboratories.
Weld County, Larimer County, Greeley, Fort Collins and Loveland each signed intergovernmental agreements to outline their shared use of the facility and their contributions to maintain it.
Northern Colorado currently does not have a crime lab. Turn around times for lab results for criminal investigations are expected to be reduced with the use of the new lab next year.
