Poor oversight led to pothole fiasco

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A 10 On Your Side investigation revealed poor oversight on the behalf of VDOT as well as low quality pothole repairs led to last month's pothole disaster on I-264.

The Virginia Department of Transportation hired TME Enterprises, Inc. specifically to maintain the interstates in Southside Hampton Roads. Last month, more than 20 drivers' tires popped in one day from potholes on Interstate 264 westbound.

WAVY.com obtained hundreds of TME's maintenance diary sheets to VDOT.

In the weeks leading up to the Feb. 8 fiasco on the interstate, the reports show several potholes on I-264 needing repairs.

One of the notes reads, "Feb. 4: VDOT oversight notes second request. Please patch potholes soon."

TME has denied turning over the 200 complaints that came in four days later.

On Feb. 21, a VDOT supervisor wrote to TME verbatim, "These potholes need to be fill in ASAP. These are tire buster, they have to be fill in ASAP. CAN NOT wait till tonight. Again ASAP. CAN NOT WAIT."

Some claims from the Feb. 8 incident have been dropped due to lack of paperwork submission. Last year, TME had 168 claims for work and paid out 22 of them, totaling $7,763.

Aubrey Layne with the Commonwealth Transportation Board told WAVY.com no pothole claims were paid in the past five years.

A letter from TME states VDOT will be handling all claims from the Feb. 8 pothole fiasco.

"I will remain vigilant and follow through with the questions you are asking on how these drivers have been compensated for the conditions of the roads," Layne told WAVY.com.