VDOT official to leave post

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A source has confirmed to WAVY News 10's Andy Fox that Dennis Heuer , the Hampton Roads District Administrator for The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), is leaving.

He confirmed the news just moments before a VDOT 2 p.m. phone conference to discuss recent issues, primarily potholes.

Listen to the full conference call

"[Heuer] told me  today it was in the best interest of the Hampton Roads community for him to leave,"  VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley  said. "Effective [Friday], he will be departing VDOT to pursue other interests and opportunities."

According to VDOT officials, Heuer's salary was $140,370 and was appointed to his position in 2004. 

An acting Hampton Roads District Administrator has been appointed.

Potholes along I-264 Eastbound caused thousands of dollars in damage last week.

During the phone conference, Whirley said he wants a full report done on lessons learned from the pothole debacle.

"I agree the  situation should never have happened," Whirley said.

VDOT's subcontractor TME Enterprises, Inc. has been in the hot seat along with Heuer. The company is charged with polluting the City of Norfolk's stormwater drains and failed to use hot mix during pothole repairs that would have prevented last week's fiasco.

Whirley also took responsibility.

"Just because I contract this out to a contractor that does not relieve VDOT to fix these roads... we are responsible," Whirley said.

Whirley told 10 On Your Side TME will be told to use better sticking hot mix asphalt, not cold mix that crumbles in rough weather conditions.

"All future  contracts will require all pothole that are 6" by 6" and 11.5" deep must be reported and repaired immediately upon discovery," Whirley said.

Whirley said VDOT signed a $3 million contract with Curtis Contracting for emergency concrete replacement.  TME has a contract with VDOT through May.

"I have not signed a new contract with TME. I do not plan to sign a new contract with TME until I have completed my review," Whirley said.

Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim wrote a letter to Whirley , emphasizing the economic importance of I-264 to the City of Norfolk.

"It is our belief that the crumbling of portions of I-264... was certainly foreseeable and... preventable," Fraim wrote.