Nashville’s Pothole Problems Only Worsening

2019 Has Been the Worst Year So Far for Potholes. Our Nashville Car Accident Lawyers Explain What That Means for Drivers.

Last year was reported to be the ‘worst year for potholes,’ but 2019 has been worse than 2018, according to both the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Metro Public Works.

During the height of ‘peak pothole season,’ Metro had responded to 5,122 potholes by Feb. 25, 2018. At the same time this year, Metro had already filled 5,679, a 10 percent increase, the Tennessean reported.

Potholes aren’t just a nuisance for drivers. They can cause serious damage to your car and can even result in an accident. As potholes continue to threaten the roads and drivers, our Nashville car accident lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates are here to help you understand the issue and what you can do in the event of a crash.

How Many Potholes Are Filled Each Day in Nashville?

Metro Public Works has four crews, each with three people that work up to 10 hours a day, depending on factors such as weather conditions.

These teams work tirelessly to repair potholes across Music City, filling approximately 45 to 65 every day.

“It’s quite a lot,” Public Works spokesperson Cortnye Stone told News Channel 5, “when you think about having to stop and get out of the truck and deal with traffic going on around you.”

Metro crews try to get potholes filled within 24 hours of being reported, but as the number has continued to rise, this can be quite demanding.

“We have crews out working all day, every day, five days a week, sometimes Saturday, just to keep up,” Stone said. “Sometimes it feels like we’re just catching our breath to get them all filled.”

Why Are Pothole Reports Increasing?

With Nashville’s growing population, there are more cars on the roads, which inevitably means more problems, such as potholes.

Potholes are formed through a combination of traffic and water. Even small cracks in the asphalt can allow water to seep below the surface. As the water freezes and melts with changing temperatures, the pavement expands and contracts, causing cracks or stresses on the roads.

When traffic constantly runs over weak spots on the road, the material eventually breaks down and creates a pothole.

Potholes Lead to Serious Accidents

These holes create serious risks for all drivers on Nashville roads. Hitting a pothole can not only put a strain on your vehicle’s suspension and shocks, it can also cause you to lose control of your car.

In fact, if you hit a deep pothole, the impact can be similar to that of a collision at 35 mph. Potholes are especially dangerous for motorcycle drivers. In addition to fewer safety features, motorcycles only have two wheels and weigh less than automobiles, increasing the chances of a serious or even deadly accident if they run over a pothole.

No matter what type of vehicle you’re driving, everyone on the roadway has a responsibility to look out for hazards, such as potholes, and proceed with caution to avoid an accident.

How to Report Potholes to Metro or TDOT

Metro and TDOT cannot be everywhere at once, especially as Nashville’s pothole problem continues to worsen year after year.

If you see a pothole, take a minute after you’ve reached your destination to report it. Metro handles city roads and TDOT is responsible for most state routes and interstates in Davidson County.

Here’s how you can report a pothole in Nashville, as outlined by the Tennessean:

Metro Roads 

If you spot a pothole on a Metro road, you can call 311 or 615-862-5000, or submit it at hub.nashville.gov or through the hubNashville app.

TDOT-Maintained Roads

To report a pothole or similar hazard on a TDOT-maintained road, you can reach out to the local TDOT maintenance office.

• Nashville (Davidson, Williamson): 615-350-4400

You can also email tdot.comments@tn.gov – please give the exact location of the pothole and describe its length, width, and depth. For more information on this process, visit tn.gov/tdot/maintenance/potholes.

Do You Need Help After an Accident?

2019 Has Been the Worst Year So Far for Potholes. Our Nashville Car Accident Lawyers Explain What That Means for Drivers.

Last year was reported to be the ‘worst year for potholes,’ but 2019 has been worse than 2018, according to both the Tennessee Department of Transportation and Metro Public Works.

During the height of ‘peak pothole season,’ Metro had responded to 5,122 potholes by Feb. 25, 2018. At the same time this year, Metro had already filled 5,679, a 10 percent increase, the Tennessean reported.

Potholes aren’t just a nuisance for drivers. They can cause serious damage to your car and can even result in an accident. As potholes continue to threaten the roads and drivers, our Nashville car accident lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates are here to help you understand the issue and what you can do in the event of a crash.

How Many Potholes Are Filled Each Day in Nashville?

Metro Public Works has four crews, each with three people that work up to 10 hours a day, depending on factors such as weather conditions.

These teams work tirelessly to repair potholes across Music City, filling approximately 45 to 65 every day.

“It’s quite a lot,” Public Works spokesperson Cortnye Stone told News Channel 5, “when you think about having to stop and get out of the truck and deal with traffic going on around you.”

Metro crews try to get potholes filled within 24 hours of being reported, but as the number has continued to rise, this can be quite demanding.

“We have crews out working all day, every day, five days a week, sometimes Saturday, just to keep up,” Stone said. “Sometimes it feels like we’re just catching our breath to get them all filled.”

Why Are Pothole Reports Increasing?

With Nashville’s growing population, there are more cars on the roads, which inevitably means more problems, such as potholes.

Potholes are formed through a combination of traffic and water. Even small cracks in the asphalt can allow water to seep below the surface. As the water freezes and melts with changing temperatures, the pavement expands and contracts, causing cracks or stresses on the roads.

When traffic constantly runs over weak spots on the road, the material eventually breaks down and creates a pothole.

Potholes Lead to Serious Accidents

These holes create serious risks for all drivers on Nashville roads. Hitting a pothole can not only put a strain on your vehicle’s suspension and shocks, it can also cause you to lose control of your car.

In fact, if you hit a deep pothole, the impact can be similar to that of a collision at 35 mph. Potholes are especially dangerous for motorcycle drivers. In addition to fewer safety features, motorcycles only have two wheels and weigh less than automobiles, increasing the chances of a serious or even deadly accident if they run over a pothole.

No matter what type of vehicle you’re driving, everyone on the roadway has a responsibility to look out for hazards, such as potholes, and proceed with caution to avoid an accident.

How to Report Potholes to Metro or TDOT

Metro and TDOT cannot be everywhere at once, especially as Nashville’s pothole problem continues to worsen year after year.

If you see a pothole, take a minute after you’ve reached your destination to report it. Metro handles city roads and TDOT is responsible for most state routes and interstates in Davidson County.

Here’s how you can report a pothole in Nashville, as outlined by the Tennessean:

Metro Roads 

If you spot a pothole on a Metro road, you can call 311 or 615-862-5000, or submit it at hub.nashville.gov or through the hubNashville app.

TDOT-Maintained Roads

To report a pothole or similar hazard on a TDOT-maintained road, you can reach out to the local TDOT maintenance office.

• Nashville (Davidson, Williamson): 615-350-4400

You can also email tdot.comments@tn.gov – please give the exact location of the pothole and describe its length, width, and depth. For more information on this process, visit tn.gov/tdot/maintenance/potholes.

Do You Need Help After an Accident?

Our Nashville car accident lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates know that dangerous situations, like potholes, can come out of nowhere. This is why it’s so important to make sure you’re making safe decisions behind the wheel and abiding by posted speed limits.

Motorists who are speeding or driving carelessly when they hit an unexpected pothole have a much greater chance of causing a serious accident.

If you suffered injuries in a collision due to the reckless actions of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Contact our law office today at 615-255-9999 to discuss your legal options, or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Our Nashville car accident lawyers at Mitch Grissim & Associates know that dangerous situations, like potholes, can come out of nowhere. This is why it’s so important to make sure you’re making safe decisions behind the wheel and abiding by posted speed limits.

Motorists who are speeding or driving carelessly when they hit an unexpected pothole have a much greater chance of causing a serious accident.

If you suffered injuries in a collision due to the reckless actions of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

Contact our law office today at 615-255-9999 to discuss your legal options, or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation.