Norfolk backyard jungle

NORFOLK, Va. - A struggling local economy hit a Norfolk family close to home.

A massively overgrown stretch of land shares a property line with the Machak family in Norfolk. The only thing separating the backyard with the property is a chainlink fence.

VDOT owns the property, but the agency says a budget shortfall in the billions has meant cutting maintenance projects all over the city, including the area behind the Machak's home.

"VDOT used to come out here twice a year and clear this all out for me," said Thomas Machak.

In a statement to WAVY.com the transportation agency said, "VDOT has eliminated funding to over 800 roadway projects and established new maintenance service levels to include the reduction of mowing and vegetation control practices."

But Machak says there's more than just overgrown plants and trees.

"Mainly the snakes, the mosquitos and the rats," said Machak.

It's an infestation the Machak's believe has impacted their families quality of life.

"I can't even have family functions. I'm afraid to have my kids out here," Machak continued.

Machak told WAVY.com he's tried repeatedly to get VDOT to take care of the problem, and that's when he turned to 10 On Your Side.

WAVY.com talked to a VDOT representative on the phone on Friday about Machak's concerns and they gave us this response:

This particular location is an example of reductions to vegetation control practices VDOT may have conducted in the past.

- Virginia Department of Transportation.

VDOT continued on to say it's open to partnerships with citizens to get jobs like this one done, but Machak claims he tried that route.

"I told them I would clean it out, they said if I go back there, I'd be trespassing," Machak told WAVY.com.

VDOT says by reducing maintenance projects like the one behind the Machak's home, the agency can save $20 million a year, but that's a relatively small dent in a $2.6 billion statewide budget shortfall.