Jonesboro, AR – On Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 9:00 a.m., the City of Jonesboro will break ground on the Caraway Road Expansion Project. The $5.5 million improvement, financed through a revenue bond, will widen Caraway Road to five lanes between I‑555 and Latourette Drive, then taper to three lanes to Glenn Place. A new 1.5‑mile side path will also be added to protect pedestrians and encourage walking.
Why the project matters
More than 15,000 vehicles travel the corridor each day, and the existing road has no sidewalks. Residents have long voiced concerns about safety and traffic delays, especially during peak‑hour southbound travel. City officials say the added capacity will reduce congestion and make the area more attractive for future development, including safer access to the nearby Nettleton Fox Meadow School campuses.
Funding and local impact
The expansion is part of the City’s broader infrastructure push under the Destination 100K initiative. The $17.5 million revenue bond package was approved by the Jonesboro City Council and is backed by non‑tax franchise fees paid by utility companies that use city rights‑of‑way. This marks the first time in over twenty years that Jonesboro has used a revenue bond for a major infrastructure project.
Mayor Harold Copenhaver praised the milestone, noting, “These investments have been talked about for a long time, and I’m proud to see us finally reaching this point. Growth is a good problem to have, especially when you consider the alternative is decline.” City Engineer Craig Light added, “When I first started with the city in 2007, the south Caraway Road project was listed as a priority. It’s needed and finally getting started.”
Groundbreaking details
The ceremony will be held at 3701 S. Caraway Road, near the Trailers & Equipment stage area between the USDA office and Focus Inc. Mayor Copenhaver, city council members, project partners, community leaders, and the public are invited to attend.
Beyond the road widening, the project will enclose existing drainage infrastructure, further enhancing the corridor’s resilience. The city hopes the improvements will spur additional private investment and support the continued growth of Jonesboro’s neighborhoods.
Original reporting: NEA Report (Jonesboro) — read the source article.
