Inspections along Highway 65 have revealed severe cracks in five major support pillars. The road,which sees daily traffic of 300,000 vehicles, is an important corridor between Charlottesville and its suburbs. Transportation officials have closed the damaged section,and they're estimating repairs will take three to four months.
Questions have surfaced about McDougal Landworks, the firm hired by the city two years ago to conduct an inspection of the highway. Records have revealed that the firm conducted repairs on all the pillars in question. Officials are puzzled how,even with normal wear and tear, new cracks could appear so quickly. Some politicians,claiming fraud,are planning legal action against MCDougal.