Public works committee backs ordinance to route large commercial trucks around Downtown Jonesboro

An ordinance that would establish an alternative commercial truck route to keep nonlocal large trucks off downtown Jonesboro’s core streets was recommended for the full City Council by the City of Jonesboro Public Works Committee after public comment and staff discussion.

The ordinance, introduced as Ordinance 25-016, would prohibit nonlocal class‑1 and class‑2 (or larger) commercial trucks from using Union, Main and Church streets between Highland Drive and Johnson Avenue except for local deliveries, and would add truck‑route signage and a graduated fine schedule for violations. The committee voted to forward the ordinance to the full council for the first of three readings.

Committee members and staff said the proposal responds to recent downtown closures and high pedestrian activity. The ordinance text references an existing city definition of “truck” and Arkansas Code language cited by staff; it routes tractor‑trailers via Highland…