Broken traffic signs costing taxpayers?

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) - Variable message signs are supposed to provide real-time information to drivers and improve traffic flow, but nine of the signs on the Peninsula do nothing at all and chances are, they'll never work again. It's a classic "You Paid For This" story and an example of taxpayer waste.

Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars were wasted on signs along Interstate 64 and on roads leading to the interstate. Dwayne Cook is VDOT's Regional Operations Director. He told WAVY.com, "The primary reason they are not functioning properly is the original equipment manufacturer that provided the equipment went bankrupt in July of 2006."

Cook is referring to the company Vultron Inc. that liquidated its assets and went bankrupt in July 2006. That event dried up service and parts for the signs. One month later, in August 2006 American Technical Fabricators purchased most of Vultron's inventory, but none of the responsibility. American Technical's then Executive Vice President Bob Lemmen helped lift American Technical out of the ashes of Vultron.

"I don't think we have any legal responsibility for repairing any signs," Lemen said.

In question are four interstate signs that cost $40,000 each, and five signs off the interstate that cost $23,000 each. The nine signs cost taxpayers a total of $275,000. Nearly $300,000 and the signs don't work. Some have never worked.

When asked if the signs would ever work again, Cook said, "We believe these signs will operate again."

However, that optimism is not shared by Lemmen, who told WAVY.com, "The warranty process (from our company) is not going to pay to get these signs fixed...absolutely not."

Cook and VDOT actually believe the signs will be repaired under existing warranty with the project's main contractor Viasys with no additional cost to taxpayers.

"The repairs and work will be done through the warranty process and the installation contractor," Cook said.

Eight days after our interview with Cook it would appear VDOT did an about face. Call it a U-TURN for VDOT. In a letter to Viasys's William Dresback in Miami Florida, VDOT Construction Manager Blaine Tudor wrote: "The Department has decided to complete warranty work...please return...all parts...removed from the signs for repair."

No matter how you cut it, that work will be done, first, at taxpayer expense, contrary to Cook's previous statements about taxpayers not paying for the work. WAVY.com called VDOT back and the department insists any costs incurred will be passed along to Viasys in an anticipated lawsuit against VDOT.

WAVY.com also called Viasys. William Dresback who describes himself as a representative of investors refused to do a recorded interview. So while on the phone, we asked him if Viasys plans on doing any of the warranty work on the broken signs? He said, "I don't know. That is an operational question. We obviously have issues with VDOT. I have been in contact with VDOT to try and move things along as a representative of the investors." Desback then told WAVY.com he couldn't comment any further.

Back at VDOT, Dwayne Cook remains optimistic, "We will get them to pay working through the warranty process."

American Technical's Bob Lemmen is not so optimistic, "These signs will never work, that's the bottom line."

Even VDOT's Dwayne Cook admits fixing these signs with all the current transportation challenges is not on a short list of things to do. Cook also noted the 511 traffic update number dialed from cell phones moves, what appears to be the nearly obsolete Traffic Management Signs, farther down that list.