JONESBORO, Ark. — Crews will soon begin work on a $5.5 million project to widen Caraway Road, marking a significant step in a long-discussed effort to improve traffic flow and safety in one of Jonesboro's busiest corridors.
City officials will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, to kick off the Caraway Road Expansion Project. The initiative will expand Caraway Road to five lanes from Interstate 555 to Latourette Drive, then taper to a three-lane configuration extending to Glenn Place. Additionally, 1.5 miles of multi-use side paths will be constructed to enhance pedestrian safety.
The project is funded through the city’s $17.5 million revenue bond package, part of the broader Destination 100K initiative aimed at accommodating Jonesboro’s growing population. Officials say the expansion has been years in the making, with plans dating back more than a decade.
“These investments have been talked about for a long time, and I’m proud to see us finally reaching this point,” said Mayor Harold Copenhaver. “I know construction is a temporary inconvenience, but growth is a good problem to have, especially when you consider the alternative is decline.”
City Engineer Craig Light echoed the mayor’s sentiments, noting the persistent effort it took to bring the project to fruition. “When I first started with the city in 2007, the south Caraway Road project was listed as a priority and plans were developed, but adequate funding was never appropriated,” Light said. “This has been needed and talked about for a long time, and I’m happy to see it finally get started.”
Officials expect the project to ease congestion and promote safer travel through the area, addressing a growing need in a corridor vital to residential, commercial, and commuter traffic.