Speed table creates headache for Jonesboro drivers

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) - Even though Main Street in Jonesboro has a speed limit of 25 miles per hour, city and local businesses said they see people racing down the street daily.

Now, the addition of the speed tables has drivers hitting the brakes.

After new speed tables were installed on Main Street, drivers expressed their concerns.

“I really don’t like it,” one driver said. “My car is low, and then when I come across it, the bottom end of my car kind of hits, so I really don’t like it.”

Drivers have big questions about why the speed table was installed, but business owners like John Myers at The Parsonage say this kind of project is a long time coming.

“It is long past due,” he said. “It’s one of those things there is no reason, regardless of Main Street being a major highway, there is no reason why you need to do more than 5 to 10 mph with all these pedestrians around.”

The tables made their debut Monday, Nov. 21, and many videos shared across social media show some drivers were not ready for the adjustment.

To ease drivers’ concerns, city workers closed the street Tuesday morning to add asphalt to soften the landing.

“You could see it was what an engineer would call a little aggressive,” said Communications Director Bill Campbell.

He said the city conducted a study that showed people were driving at dangerous speeds higher than the 25 mph limit. He hopes the tables will save a life.

“We don’t need anything traffic-wise to cause an accident with pedestrians with people trying to enjoy themselves,” he said.

He said the city plans to add another speed table further down Main Street.

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