Authorities Cringe as Va. Garage Crumbles

The county's relationship with Driggs, the low bidder on the Herndon-Monroe project, was marked by a series of claims and counterclaims over problems with the garage.

John Driggs, president of the Capitol Heights firm, did not return a phone message. But according to county records, the company said the 256-day delay was attributable to the difficulties with Concrete Structures. The firm said the project was also complicated by groundwater and "topographical anomalies" at the site. The two sides came to a contract settlement, approved by the Board of Supervisors in July 2001, in which the county paid Driggs an extra $50,000 for additional work and withheld $216,000 from its total fee.

That same year, Driggs was in a dispute with the Virginia Department of Transportation for being months behind schedule on an Interstate 64 interchange near Williamsburg. The Newport News Daily Press, citing VDOT files, reported in 2003 that the firm used improper equipment and unapproved concrete mix.

The county has built other garages in recent years, at the John F. "Jack" Herrity and Martha Pennino government office buildings and the public safety center. Another is under construction at the Burke Virginia Railway Express station. Officials said they are confident that they will not have the same durability issues.

Still, they said they have taken away some lessons from the Herndon-Monroe experience. One is to exercise more care in vetting and overseeing precast concrete subcontractors. Officials said they are also discussing a program of preventive maintenance and periodic inspections for its garages, one that was promised in 2003.

Nick Manetto, a Reston commuter who uses the garage, has had to alter his schedule to arrive early to get a space. He said he would like to see it in better shape.

"I hope the county is a bit more diligent on this front going forward," he said.

Staff researcher Meg Smith contributed to this report.