Lynchburg, Va. - After the massive potholes and crumbling concrete on I-264 captured headlines around the state, the Commonwealth Transportation Board met Wednesday in Lynchburg and decided VDOT will take over management of Hampton Roads interstates.
That means once TME Enterprises leaves on May 14th, VDOT will be in charge of I-64 and I-264 directly, and will then bid out work to companies to do specifics like pothole repair or snow removal.
No more performance-based contracts will be given out, and the $34 million project that TME walked away from will now be completely cancelled.
Another aspect to these future plans is completely re- building the two problematic interstates to begin with.
In Lynchburg, VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley and Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton finally confirmed that the project will indeed be funded by the state, and put into VDOT's six-year plan.
I-264, from the Downtown Tunnel to the Beach, and I-64, from the HRBT to the I-264 interchange, will be completely torn out and re-built, bringing pavement thickness to 13 inches, adding drainage to all lanes, and completely replacing concrete on the entire stretch, with an asphalt overlay on top to make sure the road is smooth.
Design proposals will go out this summer, with construction starting in the next few years.
According to Secretary Connaughton, past estimates have put the costs around $60-70 million, but that was before the pothole emergency, so the project could cost even more now.
Complete coverage: Hampton Roads' pothole mess
VDOT released this statement about the meeting:
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) voted today to rescind its award, which was to begin this May, with TME Enterprises (TME) for maintenance services performed on sections of I-64 and I-264 in southside Hampton Roads. TME will continue its current contract with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on I-64 and I-264 until that contract expires this early May. Action by the CTB follows TME’s Notice of Withdrawal of Bid, which was received by VDOT last week.
The CTB also approved VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley’s recommendation that VDOT completely cancel its Invitation for Bids to seek maintenance contracts under the performance based Turnkey Maintenance Services (TAMS) for sections of I-64 and I-264. Whirley also recommended that interstates with significant pavement deficiencies may not be good candidates for TAMS contracts and maintenance of those roadways should be managed directly by VDOT.
Beginning this May, VDOT will manage the daily maintenance, not TAMS contractors, on sections of I-64 and I-264 in southside Hampton Roads. While contract forces will conduct the actual interstate maintenance work as required by law, the management of their work will be directed by VDOT.
“Moving forward regarding southside I-64 and I-264, VDOT will take over the management of the day-to-day maintenance activities such as pothole repairs to keep the road safe,” said Whirley. “While immediate pavement repairs continue, work is also under way to permanently restore deteriorating sections of roadway. That pavement rehabilitation will go a long way in preventing potholes over the long term and provide a better riding surface.”
The CTB resolution follows a report conducted by VDOT regarding the pothole situation that occurred on I-64 and I-264 in early February. The report recommended preventative actions and long-term solutions. TME has submitted a report in response to VDOT’s preliminary findings. VDOT is currently reviewing TME’s report.
