The Hampton Roads administrator for the Virginia Department of Transportation, Dennis Heuer, has resigned from his position.
Mike Estes, VDOT’s current director of strategic initiatives, will step in and take over Heuer’s job for the time being. A search will begin soon to find a permanent replacement, said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley on a conference call Thursday.
Heuer’s resignation comes after some turbulence — a rapid opening of potholes on I-264 and I-64 after rain earlier this month may have had to do with a lack of oversight of TME Industries, the contractor tasked with repairing potholes in Hampton Roads. A region-wide traffic problem last fall from the simultaneous closure of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and the James River Bridge caused headaches for area motorists.
VDOT was unable to return information about pothole damage on I-64 from mile marker 227 to 247 before this story was published.
Whirley said VDOT signed a $3 million emergency contract with Curtis Contracting to expedite the repair of the potholes.
Heuer has been working in the Hampton Roads District since 2004, according to VDOT’s website. During his time as administrator, he oversaw construction, maintenance and operation of highways, ferries and bridge-tunnels, with an annual budget of more than $400 million and 1,290 state employees.
