Governor McDonnell Announces Pilot Program to use Undeveloped VDOT Properties for Truck Safety Rest Areas
RICHMOND, VA – November 4, 2010 – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the initiation of a new pilot program to use undeveloped VDOT properties as Truck Safety Rest Areas. The first site, along Interstate 66 in Warren County, will begin to provide additional parking for truckers on November 8th to get their required rest hours when traveling along the interstate. The pilot location is an unused paved lot along the eastbound lanes which was purchased decades ago for future rest area development and will be temporarily opened as a truck-only rest area.
“Truckers are the lifeline of our economy, carrying food, manufactured products, clothes, and everything imaginable and necessary for our daily lives,” said McDonnell. “To ensure they drive safely, truckers need secure places to park and rest. Anyone who has passed our full service rest areas at night or the early morning can see that many are filled to capacity with trucks. This pilot project will look to use undeveloped properties at minimal cost to the Commonwealth.”
The pilot period will last 90 days followed by a 60-day evaluation period. The truck rest area will continue operations during the 60-day evaluation period.
This I-66 rest area location is near mile marker four and has a paved lot. The rest area will open on the morning of November 8th and remain available for use 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. Electronic message boards will be placed in the area notifying the public.
The Warren County Board of Supervisors approached the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) with concerns about overnight truck parking. This plan should reduce trucks parking at interchanges and at local businesses while drivers get their required hours of rest. VDOT anticipates the new rest area will also provide trucks with a place to get off the roads during inclement weather.
In preparing the rest area, the ramps will be repaved to reduce rumble strip noise and reinforce pavement strength. Signs and pavement markings will be installed. Portable toilets and trash receptacles will be installed and serviced. There will be no rest area building constructed. No additional lighting is planned at this time for this location.
The Warren County sheriff’s office and Virginia State Police have agreed to monitor the I-66 truck rest area.
A similar rest area is currently in use on I-64 in Alleghany County. Pending the results of this pilot, additional truck parking facilities will be considered on or near other interstates.
Contact:
Stacey Johnson
Press Secretary
(804) 786-2211
Sandy Myers
Virginia Department of Transportation
(540) 332-9201
