New Stoplight Installation Aims to Address Longtime Concerns Ahead of LaGuardo Elementary Opening

WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. — As summer break nears its halfway point for many students in Middle Tennessee, construction crews in Wilson County are making visible progress on two new elementary schools that aim to reduce classroom overcrowding and enhance student safety.

One of those schools—LaGuardo Elementary—is drawing particular attention, not only for its role in easing capacity issues at West Elementary School but also because of long-awaited road safety improvements on State Route 109, a busy corridor known for frequent accidents and resident concerns.

“Anyone who’s involved in the West Elementary community knows that school has been busting at the seams for quite some time,” said Bart Barker, public information officer for Wilson County Schools.

By August, the district plans to move some students from West Elementary to the new LaGuardo Elementary campus, which has been under construction for about a year. The shift is expected to ease both classroom congestion and local traffic congestion in the area.

“It is going to help it out to some degree and LaGuardo will be a part of that—it’s going to be a domino effect to ease some growth strains that we’ve seen in recent years,” Barker said.

Safety a Key Component of the New School’s Opening

LaGuardo Elementary sits just off Double Log Cabin Road, which intersects with State Route 109, a route that has seen numerous crashes over the years. As part of the school’s development, Wilson County is working with transportation officials to implement a new stoplight at the intersection to improve traffic safety.

“We’ve seen a speed limit modification at 109 and now you’ll have an added light that will be there—it’s a main vein, so to speak, in Wilson County,” Barker noted.

For local residents who have long voiced concerns about the dangers of the roadway, the new stoplight represents a tangible improvement and a milestone in the school’s construction timeline.

“It’s exciting to see us move forward with the 109 red light as visual progress of one step closer to LaGuardo Elementary completion but also as something that residents of the area have long expressed would make them feel safer,” wrote Wilson County Board of Education Chair Jamie Farough in a statement to News 2.

Barker echoed those sentiments, saying the light is a proactive measure aimed at improving school access and community safety amid rapid population growth.

“There are no signs of slowing down. Wilson County is a great place to live, work, and a great place to send your children to school,” Barker added.

Central Pike Elementary Also on Track

In addition to LaGuardo Elementary, Central Pike Elementary is expected to open in August 2026. Both schools are part of Wilson County’s larger strategy to keep up with enrollment growth while prioritizing student and transportation safety.

As new families continue moving into the area, local leaders hope these efforts will not only relieve pressure on existing schools but also address decades-old infrastructure needs around some of the county’s busiest school zones.

Originally reported by Kendall Ashman in WKRN.