JONESBORO, Ark. — A long-anticipated highway project linking Jonesboro and Paragould has encountered a substantial delay, but many locals living near the construction site are finding surprising benefits amidst the disruption.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) announced this week that the Jonesboro Eastern Bypass will now be completed by December 2028 instead of its original target date in early 2026. The project, which aims to improve traffic flow and connectivity in northeast Arkansas, stretches along Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Jonesboro—a corridor already under active construction.
Despite the revised timeline, residents and business owners along the affected area reported few significant issues. Kedron Rawlings, a tenant of an apartment complex near the construction zone, said that crews have ensured the accessibility of lanes so residents can travel without delay. He also noted an unexpected upside: the widened roadsides have created a new opportunity for outdoor activity.
“It’s given me somewhere to walk,” Rawlings said. “I think that’s been the coolest thing about this construction. I’ve been able to get outside and get my steps in and bring my son out here to come and walk as well.”
Work on the project began with the goal of easing congestion and supporting growth in the region. While inconveniences like noise or construction-related traffic are common in such projects, the relatively positive outlook among residents near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive stands out.
The delay adds nearly three years to the timeline, but the project's completion is still widely anticipated as a significant improvement to local infrastructure. Officials cited no specific reasons for the extended schedule in the announcement.
For now, residents watching the bypass take shape are finding ways to embrace the gradual progress, turning a potentially disruptive process into a chance for connection and new routines.