The Monroe County Courthouse Renovation and Expansion Project is taking a big step forward in the new year.

Commissioner John Christy said, “The first trial will take place during the first week of January 2024.”

The new three-story expansion was part of the first phase of the project. In addition to courtrooms, the 66,000-square-foot building includes an entry lobby, judges’ chambers, and support areas.

Work is continuing on the Historical Court House and the 1980s annex. The Historic Courthouse was built in 1890 with an addition of the same size built in 1934. Those two portions were added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 18, 1979. An expansion was also completed in 1979.

“They are being completely renovated,” Christy said about the historic courthouse and annex. “The basement is gutted in the historic courthouse, as well as the first floor. The second and third floor will be renovated next.”

In the middle of January, construction workers will start demolition on the basement and the old entrance of the Courthouse Annex, Christy said.

“The second floor is currently under construction and will be open in March,” he said about the annex.

Despite there being several change orders needed since the project started in June 2021, the renovation and expansion project is “currently under budget,” Christy said.

The entire project was expected to cost about $50 million. The commissioners anticipated about $5 million in change orders would be needed.

“It is night and day,” Christy said about the new building. “We have a state-of-the-art facility.”

Final completion is expected to be by the end of the summer 2024.