Three months after the pothole emergency, Hampton Roads has a new, permanent VDOT district administrator.
He comes to Hampton Roads from Culpeper, a district that only has two major interstates.
But Jim Utterback, an Air Force veteran, says he is ready for the big challenges ahead in his new job with VDOT.
“Biggest thing to do is stay focused on critical infrastructure, keeping bridges and tunnels open, keeping people moving on the interstate,” says Utterback.
That hasn't always been an easy task for Hampton Roads drivers with too much congestion, not enough water crossings, and deteriorating highways doing major damage to cars.
“If they were easy to fix, they would have been fixed a long time ago. There has to be some patience; it’s going to get better,” says Utterback.
But there is some good news on the pothole claims process with TME Enterprises.
VDOT officials say they are just working out some minor details with the company, before drivers are finally paid for their damages.
We asked if Utterback will be making the claims process easier, after TME's contract expires on May 14th.
“Obviously that’s a goal; if someone gets their car damaged, the fault being the contractor or VDOT, we need to go through the process and address it as quickly as we can,” says Utterback.
Click here to read NewsChannel 3's full coverage of VDOT potholes.
