How to Report a County Road Problem in Sumner County

For a road maintained by Sumner County, contact the Sumner County Highway Department at 615-452-2632 or visit its office at 1051 Old Highway 109 North in Gallatin. The department handles county road and bridge maintenance and lists office hours as Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gallatin city streets should be reported through the City of Gallatin Fix It Form or by calling Public Works at 615-451-5909. Interstate and numbered state routes are handled by TDOT through its online maintenance request form or 833-TDOTFIX.

If you see a pothole, blocked ditch, damaged road sign, flooding problem or other defect, the first step is identifying who maintains the road. In Sumner County, the responsible agency may be the Sumner County Highway Department, the City of Gallatin or the Tennessee Department of Transportation, commonly called TDOT.

The agency matters because county roads, city streets and state routes are reported through different channels. Use the guide below to send the report to the right office.

> Last verified: August 15, 2026. This guide was checked against the Sumner County Highway Department, City of Gallatin and TDOT websites.

Which agency should receive your report?

Road location or type — Responsible agency — How to start

County-maintained road outside a city-maintained street system — Sumner County Highway Department — Call 615-452-2632 or contact the department office in Gallatin

Street maintained by the City of Gallatin — City of Gallatin Public Works — Submit the Fix It Form or call 615-451-5909

Interstate or Tennessee state route — TDOT — Submit a TDOT maintenance request or call 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349)

The Sumner County Highway Department says it provides county road and bridge repair and maintenance. Its website also states that TDOT handles roads such as Highway 109 and Highway 174.

Step 1: Identify the road owner

Before reporting the issue, note the road name and look for clues about jurisdiction:

• County roads: These are generally local roads maintained by Sumner County outside city-maintained systems.
• Gallatin city streets: Roads within the City of Gallatin may be handled by Public Works, including potholes, street signs, drainage and related street problems.
• State routes and interstates: TDOT is responsible for state-owned roads, including interstates and state routes. A route number or state highway designation can help identify a TDOT road, but confirm the responsible agency if you are unsure.

If a problem is at a boundary or you cannot determine the road owner, provide the exact location and ask the agency whether it has jurisdiction. Avoid sending a driver to photograph or inspect a dangerous location while traffic is moving.

Step 2: Report a Sumner County road problem

For a county-maintained road, contact the Sumner County Highway Department:

• Phone: 615-452-2632
• Address: 1051 Old Highway 109 North, Gallatin, TN 37066
• Listed office hours: Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The department lists county road repair and maintenance and county bridge repair and maintenance among its services.

When you call, explain whether the problem involves:

• A pothole or deteriorated pavement
• A washed-out shoulder
• A blocked ditch, culvert or drainage channel
• Flooding or standing water on the roadway
• A damaged guardrail or bridge feature
• A fallen tree or debris
• A missing, damaged or obstructed sign
• A road obstruction or other condition affecting travel

The county’s official page does not state a standard repair deadline or response time. Ask whether the report will be assigned a reference number and whether additional information is needed.

Step 3: Gather the information the road department needs

A precise report is easier to evaluate than a general complaint. Have these details ready:

1. Road name and direction of travel. Say whether the problem is on the northbound, southbound, eastbound or westbound side when applicable.
2. Nearest cross street, driveway, landmark or intersection. Rural roads may not have a clear street number nearby.
3. Approximate location. A GPS pin or map screenshot can help, but do not stop in an unsafe place to collect it.
4. Description and size. Explain whether the pothole is shallow or deep, whether the shoulder is collapsing, or whether water is covering the pavement.
5. Traffic impact. Note whether drivers must cross the center line, whether a lane is blocked, or whether the problem is creating a sight-distance hazard.
6. Photos, when safe. Take photographs only from a lawful, safe location away from moving traffic.
7. Your contact information. The agency may need to clarify the location or request more details.

For drainage problems, describe where the water begins and where it flows. Include nearby driveways, culverts, ditches or intersections if they help explain the issue.

Reporting a road problem inside Gallatin

A road inside Gallatin may be a city-maintained street rather than a county road. Gallatin Public Works lists street maintenance, pothole repairs, street signs and stormwater maintenance among its responsibilities.

Use the City of Gallatin’s Fix It Form for problems such as:

• Potholes
• Blocked drainage channels
• Flooding
• Debris in the road
• Damaged curbs or sidewalks
• Road striping
• Traffic or road signs
• Traffic signals
• Storm sewer leaks or blockages
• Water leaking on a roadway

The form asks for contact information, the type of problem, a brief description and the location. It also allows a photo upload.

For urgent attention that is not a police emergency, the Fix It Form directs residents to call 615-451-5909. The form says to call 911 for a police emergency.

Gallatin Public Works lists its physical address as 641 Long Hollow Pike, Gallatin, TN 37066 and the same phone number, 615-451-5909.

Reporting a problem on a state route or interstate

TDOT’s maintenance request page says the department is responsible for state-owned roads, including interstates and state routes. For a routine maintenance issue, use the TDOT Maintenance Request Form.

TDOT asks callers to provide the exact location, including the route, mile marker and nearby cross streets or interchanges. The page also says the online form should not be used for a highway emergency.

For after-hours, non-life-threatening road repair concerns, TDOT lists the Road Repair Hotline at 833-TDOTFIX (833-836-8349). If the situation is life-threatening, call 911.

For current traffic conditions, incidents, construction activity and weather-related roadway information, Tennessee 511 directs travelers to SmartWay or to dial 511 in Tennessee.

What to do if the road problem is immediately dangerous

Do not wait for a routine maintenance form if the condition presents an immediate threat to life or creates an active crash hazard.

• Call 911 for a life-threatening emergency, crash, active roadway obstruction or immediate danger.
• Move to a safe location if you can do so without increasing the danger.
• Do not stop in a travel lane to photograph a pothole, flooded roadway or fallen object.
• If the issue is on a TDOT road but is not life-threatening, use the TDOT hotline or maintenance request process.
• For a city problem requiring urgent non-emergency attention, use the City of Gallatin’s listed Public Works number.

A report is not a substitute for emergency assistance, traffic control or medical care.

Common mistakes to avoid

Sending a county report to the city—or vice versa

A Gallatin address does not by itself tell you whether a road is maintained by the city, county or state. Start with the road name, route number and exact location.

Reporting without a usable location

“Pothole near Gallatin” is unlikely to give maintenance crews enough information. Include a cross street, landmark, mile marker, nearby address or GPS location when available.

Assuming a report guarantees immediate repair

The official pages reviewed for this guide explain how to contact the responsible agency but do not promise a specific repair time. Weather, severity, traffic risk and available crews may affect scheduling.

Calling while driving

Pull over safely before using a phone or submitting a report. TDOT specifically reminds motorists not to text and drive.

Keep the official contacts handy

• Sumner County Highway Department: 615-452-2632; 1051 Old Highway 109 North, Gallatin
• City of Gallatin Public Works: 615-451-5909; Fix It Form available through the city website
• TDOT Road Repair Hotline: 833-TDOTFIX (833-836-8349)
• Emergency: 911
• Tennessee road conditions: Dial 511 or use TDOT SmartWay

If you are unsure where to begin, write down the road name, nearest landmark and type of hazard first. That information will help the responsible agency determine whether the issue involves county road repair, Gallatin Public Works or TDOT.