JONESBORO, AR — A groundbreaking ceremony is set for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 7, to kick off the $5.5 million Caraway Road Expansion Project, a long-anticipated infrastructure initiative aimed at addressing traffic congestion, improving pedestrian safety, and enhancing quality of life in Jonesboro.
The project will widen Caraway Road to five lanes from I-555 to Latourette Drive and then taper to three lanes extending to Glenn Place. Additionally, approximately 1.5 miles of new side paths will be constructed to accommodate pedestrians along a corridor currently lacking sidewalks. The stretch sees an average of over 15,000 vehicles daily, and the absence of safe pedestrian infrastructure has spurred public concern for years. Dirt pathways created by heavy foot traffic currently line both sides of the road.
The improvements are intended to alleviate peak southbound traffic congestion, which frequently causes significant delays, and to promote safer access to nearby Nettleton Fox Meadow School campuses. Plans also include enclosing the existing roadside drainage infrastructure.
“This is a project that has been in the works for a long time, and I’m proud to see us reach this milestone,” said Mayor Harold Copenhaver. “Construction may cause temporary inconvenience, but this investment is essential for our growing city. It improves safety, quality of life, and enhances our potential for future development, which are all critical for Jonesboro’s continued growth.”
The Caraway Road overhaul is part of the City’s broader investment strategy focused on infrastructure, public safety, and quality of life improvements. These efforts include record-breaking spending on road overlays, sidewalks, and continued partnership projects with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT).
City Engineer Craig Light highlighted the significance of the project, noting that it had been considered a priority since at least 2007 but lacked funding until now. “When I started with the city, the south Caraway Road project was in the planning stages but had no funding to back it. It’s rewarding to finally see it become a reality,” he said.
The $5.5 million project will be financed through the City’s $17.5 million revenue bond package, part of the Destination 100K initiative, aimed at accommodating Jonesboro's growing population and infrastructure needs. Approved by the Jonesboro City Council, the bond package utilizes non-tax revenue from franchise fees—the payments made by utility companies for using the City’s rights-of-way. This marks the first use of revenue bonds for city infrastructure in more than two decades. The funding model was designed to avoid burdening residents with additional tax increases.
Other projects under the same bond package include the new E-911 center, Johnson Avenue improvements, and street overlays.
The ceremonial groundbreaking will take place at 3701 S. Caraway Road, near the Trailers & Equipment stage area, located between the USDA office and Focus Inc. City officials, project stakeholders, community leaders, and members of the public are invited to attend.