Unexpected delays applying pressure to Dec. 2026 timeline for new mental health facility

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A new mental health facility for inmates should be built by the end of next year, but a series of roadblocks is getting in the way of that tight deadline.

After a zoning battle between the City of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma County Commissioners, construction has begun on the facility.

On Monday, the Public Improvements and Infrastructure Committee discussed delays interfering with the project's completion.

William White, the Owner's Representative for PBA ARPA projects, said, "Currently, our schedule shows late 2026. We are obviously concerned about that, but we have been affected a great deal by the weather and unknown site conditions with the poor soils."

The center is located off East Grand and Southeast 15th, financed with pandemic funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson told News 4, "We want to do it right. We want to do it on budget, and we want to keep that budget in mind."

ARPA spending and construction projects have to be done by December 31, 2026.

District 2 Commissioner Brian Maughan said, "We had the standoff with Oklahoma City, with the litigation on as to whether or not we had the authority to build on this site, and that's really been the major time cost."

After overcoming that hurdle, they were hoping it'd be done by September 2026.

"Now we're looking at November, and so it gives us some a little bit of time before the December 31st deadline, but we can't afford too many more hiccups," Commissioner Maughan said.

County Commissioners say Oklahoma's wet spring played a factor in getting behind on schedule, as well as foundation issues.

"The soft spot that's been often talked about in the soil that could create some volatility for the foundational structure is under work where the parking lot would be," Commissioner Maughan added.

Commissioner Davidson said inflation has also been a blow, but they're prepared to tackle any extra costs.

"Downtown projects are going up by 20, 25%. So, yeah, we built in a cushion there. We have a little bit of extra money that we could throw at it to make sure that it's complete," Commissioner Davidson said.

Despite these setbacks, county leaders say they're confident the project will be completed in time, even if it comes down to the wire.