Heavy traffic is not just a problem at the district’s Nolan Elementary and Signal Mountain Middle/High School, but the traffic surrounding those schools – both serviced by a single small road – has become a topic of hot debate locally due to safety concerns.
“There are a lot of schools where [traffic] is an issue,” District 2 School Board representative Jonathan Welch said, naming schools including Thrasher Elementary, Daisy Elementary, Big Ridge and more.
A possible solution for Nolan and SMMHS, he said, would be to build a second entrance, an option that’s been discussed since the middle/high school was built.
“There’s never been anything more than people saying it needs to be done,” said Welch, explaining that since SMMHS’ property butts up against Prentice Cooper State Park, both the state and county would have to get involved with building a new entrance and road. “We [HCDE] don’t build roads, that’s the county and the state. To have a second entrance it would take both of those entities helping.”
Some residents and Signal Mountain officials have said they think widening Sam Powell Trail will fix the problem, and Welch said a solution may come with the impending expansion of Nolan.