How to report a road problem in Berks County

Who fixes a pothole in Berks County depends on who owns the road. If it is a state highway, you report it to PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) or online. If it is a local street, you call your township or borough road department. The county government itself maintains bridges, not roads, so a county number only helps with a bridge.

Most road complaints go to the wrong place because a "county road" is not really a thing here. In Pennsylvania, nearly every public road is either a state road maintained by PennDOT or a local road maintained by the township or borough it runs through, and counties generally do not maintain public roads at all. In Berks County, local governments own about three-quarters of the road miles and PennDOT owns most of the rest. The county's own road-related job is bridges. A county planning study counted 3,292.54 miles of roadway in 2024: 73.29 percent owned by local governments, 26.50 percent by PennDOT. Sorting out who does what is the same routing our guide to how Berks County government works covers for other services.

First, figure out whose road it is

You do not need a map. Two quick checks usually settle it.

• Does it carry a route number? State roads carry a number, such as Route 12 or Route 61, or a small black-and-white "SR" segment marker on a post. These are PennDOT's, along with most through-roads and the roads that cross municipal lines.
• Is it a local street inside one town? Neighborhood streets, most back roads, and roads with only a name and no route number are usually maintained by the township or borough. Many municipalities post the exact list of roads they maintain, and treat everything else as a state road. District Township, for example, lists its 19 township roads and tells residents that "all other roads are State roads."

If you are not sure which municipality a road sits in, your property tax bill names your township or borough, and the county's municipalities directory links to each one's website. Our guide to finding your township or borough meeting schedule walks through the same lookup.

Reporting a problem on a state road (PennDOT)

PennDOT maintains state roads across Berks County through its Engineering District 5 office, which also covers Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Northampton, and Schuylkill counties. Report potholes, downed or damaged signs, broken traffic signals, debris in the road, and similar problems two main ways:

1. Call 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) for urgent or safety issues. This is PennDOT's statewide reporting line.
2. Submit it online through the PennDOT Customer Care Center. File one concern per report, mark the location on the map or name the nearest cross street, describe the problem, and add a photo if you have one. You get a reference number to track it. Submissions are not monitored outside normal business hours, weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Berks townships also point residents to the local PennDOT Berks County maintenance office at 610-929-0766 for state-road issues; the statewide line and online form above are the channels PennDOT itself directs the public to use.

For a hazard that puts drivers in immediate danger, such as a downed traffic signal, a large object blocking a lane, or a road washed out in a storm, call 911 instead of waiting on a form.

Reporting a problem on a township or borough road

Local roads are maintained by the municipality, usually through a public works crew or an elected or appointed roadmaster. There is no single county number for these. You contact your own township or borough:

1. Find your municipality on the county's municipalities directory and open its website.
2. Look for "Public Works," "Road Department," "Roadmaster," or the main office number.
3. Call or email with the road name, the nearest house number or cross street, and what is wrong.

Reporting is the same whether the fix is a pothole, a snow-plowing complaint, a clogged drain, a dead street sign, or an overgrown sight line. If the municipality tells you the road is actually a state road, send it to PennDOT using the steps above.

County bridges are the county's job

Berks County government does not maintain roads, but it does own and maintain 59 bridges, including five covered wooden bridges. The county's Facilities & Operations department runs the County Bridge Program. To report a problem with a county-owned bridge, such as damage, a pothole on the deck, or a safety concern, call 610-478-6201.

Many bridges on state highways belong to PennDOT, not the county, so if the bridge carries a numbered route, report it to PennDOT instead. When in doubt, report it to both; neither office will mind a duplicate on a safety issue.

Checking road closures and conditions

Reporting a problem is different from checking on one. For current closures, crashes, winter conditions, and construction on state roads, use 511PA at 511pa.com or the free 511PA app. It does not take repair requests, but it tells you what PennDOT already knows about a road before you drive it.

FAQ

Who do I call about a pothole in Berks County?

If the pothole is on a state road or numbered highway, call PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623) or report it online through the PennDOT Customer Care Center. If it is on a local street, call your township or borough road department. If it is on a county-owned bridge deck, call Berks County Facilities & Operations at 610-478-6201.

How do I know if a road is a state road or a township road?

State roads usually have a route number (such as Route 61) or a small "SR" marker on a roadside post, and they include most roads that pass between towns. Local streets inside a single township or borough are usually maintained by that municipality. Many municipalities publish the list of roads they maintain and treat all others as state roads.

Does Berks County maintain any roads?

No. In Pennsylvania, roads are maintained by the state (PennDOT) or by the township or borough. Berks County government maintains 59 bridges but does not maintain public roads.

What number do I call for an emergency road hazard?

Call 911 for anything that puts drivers in immediate danger, such as a downed traffic signal, a lane blocked by a fallen tree or debris, or a road washed out by flooding. Use the non-emergency PennDOT or municipal contacts for routine repairs.

How do I report a downed street sign or dead traffic signal?

On a state road, report it to PennDOT at 1-800-FIX-ROAD or through the Customer Care Center; call 911 if a dark or downed signal is creating a hazard at a busy intersection. On a local street, report it to your township or borough road department.

Sources and contacts

• PennDOT: Report a roadway concern and the PennDOT Customer Care Center
• PennDOT Engineering District 5 (Berks County)
• Berks County Bridge Program, Facilities & Operations
• County of Berks municipalities directory
• 511PA road conditions

PennDOT statewide reporting: 1-800-FIX-ROAD (1-800-349-7623). PennDOT Berks County Maintenance: 610-929-0766. Berks County bridges (Facilities & Operations): 610-478-6201. For township and borough roads, contact your municipality's road department through the county municipalities directory. For an immediate road hazard, call 911.

Once the pothole is fixed, the bigger decisions about roads and spending happen at public meetings; see our guide to finding and attending your local meetings.