Local
Missing signs on seven Sumner County roads prompt safety concerns
Nearly 80 traffic signs disappeared from seven Sumner County roads in one weekend, costing close to $20,000 to replace. County crews restored the signs in about four days as officials seek information about who took them.
SUMNER COUNTY, Tenn. — Nearly 80 traffic signs were taken from seven county roads over a single weekend, leaving gaps in warnings for drivers and costing nearly $20,000 to replace, Roads Superintendent Toby Ellis said.
The missing signs included stop signs, speed-limit signs and warnings for curves and bridges. They were reported along Mud Hollow Road, Garrison Branch, Weeping Willow, Liberty Lane, Cummins Lane, Jones Lane and New Hope Road.
Ellis said the county initially received calls from deputies about individual missing stop signs. When crews went to replace them, they found the problem was much broader. It took about four days to put the signs back, he said.
The cost is significant, but Ellis said the safety risk is the greater concern: Without signs, drivers may miss an intersection control or a warning on an unfamiliar road.
Ellis said he suspects a group of teenagers may be responsible, but no suspects were identified in the information released. He said the signs are designed to resist theft and that the county plans to change some of its practices to make them harder to remove.
The superintendent is asking residents to check home security cameras, including doorbell cameras, for footage that could help investigators. Anyone with information is asked to contact the county roads department.