7 months ago
DALE CITY, Va. -- (WUSA) It's quite a surprise for some drivers along Virginia interstates. Orange barrels blocking 18 rest stops now closed around the state. It's a sign of the times, but when it's time to go you might have a problem.
"I don't want to see people using the side of the road if they can't find a restroom because the rest stops are closed," said one Prince William County resident. Rest stops were closed along with I-95 and I-66 in Prince William County.
The state has a 2.6 billion dollar revenue shortfall. To cut spending, the commonwealth transportation board voted to cut the number of rest stops from 42 to 23. It'll save 8. 6 million dollars.
Chuck Sexton of Richmond says he is about to write a letter to Governor Kaine telling him to, instead, cut 50 percent of the positions are V-DOT to save money.
"We say, 'welcome to Virginia,' but it's not very welcoming to find closed rest stops. For tourists or residents like us," said Sexton.
Restaurants owners near closed rest stops, like Claudia Madison of Madigan's Waterfront restaurant in Occoquan, are hoping people will chose to venture off the highway and give them some business.
Still, nobody we talked to thinks closing rest stops is a good thing. And, consider this, to close them on a permanent basis... draining the plumbing, putting up steel gates and stripping the the facilities... will take about a million dollars.
Virginia Rest Stops:
Interstate 95
Mile |
Location |
|
155 |
Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
155 |
Dale City Car-Only Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
154 |
Dale City Truck-Only Safety Rest Area south |
|
154 |
Dale City Truck-Only Safety Rest Area north |
|
131 |
Fredericksburg Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
|
107 |
Ladysmith Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
107 |
Ladysmith Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
37 |
Carson Safety Rest Area |
|
1 |
Skippers Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
Interstate 64
Mile |
Location |
|
2 |
Jerry's Run Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
|
105 |
Charlottesville Safety Rest Area east |
|
113 |
Charlottesville Safety Rest Area west |
|
169 |
Goochland Safety Rest Area east Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
168 |
Goochland Safety Rest Area west Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
213 |
New Kent Safety Rest Area east |
|
213 |
New Kent Safety Rest Area west |
Interstate 66
Mile |
Location |
|
48 |
Manassas Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center Closing Sept. 16, 2009 |
|
48 |
Manassas Safety Rest Area east Closing July 21, 2009 |
Interstate 81
Mile |
Location |
|
1 |
Bristol Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
|
13 |
Abingdon Truck-Only Safety Rest Area |
|
53 |
Smyth Safety Rest Area Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
61 |
Rural Retreat Safety Rest Area Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
108 |
Radford Safety Rest Area south |
|
108 |
Radford Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
129 |
Ironto Safety Rest Area |
|
158 |
Troutville Safety Rest Area Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
195 |
Fairfield Safety Rest Area |
|
232 |
Mount Sydney Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
232 |
Mount Sydney Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
262 |
New Market Safety Rest Area north |
|
262 |
New Market Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
320 |
Winchester Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
Interstate 85
Mile |
Location |
|
55 |
Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
55 |
Dinwiddie Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
32 |
Alberta Safety Rest Area south Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
32 |
Alberta Safety Rest Area north Closing July 21, 2009 |
|
.5 |
Bracey Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
Interstate 77
Mile |
Location |
|
61 |
Rocky Gap Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
|
59 |
Rocky Gap Safety Rest Area north |
|
1 |
Lambsburg Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
Route 13
Mile |
Location |
|
1 |
New Church Safety Rest Area/Welcome Center |
Written by Peggy Fox
9NEWS NOW & wusa9.com
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