Allison BarnetteThe city of Jonesboro has announced three infrastructure improvement projects to be funded through a recently approved $17.5 million bond. In consideration for more than a decade, the projects will advance the city’s efforts to meet future population growth and align with Jonesboro’s Destination 100K Initiative.
The bond is a non‑tax-funded instrument backed by franchise fees, so there will be no new taxes associated with these expenditures. This method of funding has not been utilized in over 30 years, and the city will use it to upgrade key safety infrastructure.
The first of the three projects, a new E-911/Public Safety Center valued at $5.5 million, will house both the E-911 call center and the Jonesboro Police Department in a more modern facility. The cit anticipates the project should facilitate first responders sharing important information between field officers and dispatchers.
While the project’s location may change, the city anticipates issuing a request for proposals for the E-911 and Public Safety Center later this summer. Construction is expected by Spring 2026.
Caraway Road expansion, estimated at $5.5 million, is a shovel ready plan that coincides with Arkansas Department of Transportation’s efforts to improve the interchange at Caraway and I-555. The city will widen the street up to five lanes in some places and provide 1.5 miles of pedestrian walkways leading to Craighead Forest Park.
City officials have recommended a bid solicitation later this fall for the design, engineering and construction of the Caraway Road expansion.
The final project is adding three new side paths to Jonesboro’s pedestrian and trails connections, which come in at $5 million. Expected to complete work by 2028, this initiative seeks to integrate healthy alternative forms of transportation while enhancing the value of properties nearby.
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