Seven crashes at Donelson intersection prompt new four-way stop

Drivers crossing McGavock Pike near Cloverdale in Donelson will face a four-way stop after Metro’s Traffic and Parking Commission approved the change during its meeting on Monday night. The decision responds to long-standing concerns from residents who said speeding vehicles made it difficult to cross the street safely near McGavock Elementary School.

Traffic data presented to the commission recorded seven crashes at the intersection in 2025. The standard speed limit on the roadway is 35 mph, which drops to 15 mph when students are walking to or from school. Despite the reduced limit, local residents reported that some drivers did not slow down sufficiently in the area.

Sarah Sanchez, who has lived near the intersection for approximately 10 years, said she often avoids parts of her neighborhood to avoid traffic hazards. She noted that drivers frequently speed down the hill, occasionally leading to vehicles leaving the road. "I never go past that, McGavock. I will come back and go to the rest of the neighborhood," Sanchez said.

Sanchez described the intersection as having a blind spot where drivers looking at their phones might miss the stop sign. "There’s a little bit of a blind spot or people look at their phones, and they don’t see the stop sign. We’ve seen cars go off in a ditch," she said.

City Councilmember Jeff Gregg advocated for the four-way stop after witnessing children narrowly avoid being hit by cars while crossing the street. The commission’s approval marks the first step in modifying the traffic flow at the location. Speed cushions were recently added along nearby Graylynn Drive as part of broader traffic calming efforts in the area.

A crossing guard previously stationed at McGavock and Cloverdale was replaced with crossing signs and flashing lights about a year ago. Sanchez expressed uncertainty about whether the new stop signs alone would change driver behavior, noting that many residents use the street as a shortcut. "A stop sign is at least a first step," Sanchez said. "I think it will be good once people realize there’s a stop sign there."

The new stop signs will require drivers to yield right-of-way to all other vehicles at the intersection. Sanchez suggested that speed bumps might provide additional safety for the many children in the neighborhood, but the immediate change involves the mandatory stop at the corner.