"After witnessing firsthand the tremendous congestion at the university, I resolved to do everything I could to help create a safer environment for the students of ASU and the residents of Jonesboro," said Senator Hutchinson.

Once constructed, the Caraway Overpass will alleviate traffic congestion at a hazardous intersection between two busy railroad tracks in Jonesboro.  Twenty-thousand vehicles and fifty trains currently traverse the intersection each day.  Hutchinson recently toured the site and has met with Jonesboro Mayor Hubert Brodell, ASU President Les Wyatt, and Craighead County Judge Dale Haas to resolve the safety issues.

Hutchinson worked successfully with Senator Richard Shelby, Ranking Member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, to add a provision to the spending bill allocating $2 million to complete preliminary engineering and construction of the Caraway Overpass.  The Transportation bill, with Hutchinson's provision, passed the Senate Wednesday night and now goes to a conference committee to be resolved with the measure passed by the House of Representatives.