Virginia to Close 18 Rest Areas This Month

The Virginia Department of Transportation will close 18 of the state’s highway rest areas later this month, but the truck parking spaces lost will be replaced at other rest areas, the Associated Press reported.

The closings were approved July 1, but state officials decided to delay the closings until July 21, AP said. One more rest area will close in September.

VDOT estimates the closings will save $9 million per year.

The 225 truck parking spaces lost when rest areas close will be replaced at the 23 areas that will remain open, AP said. Virginia will also remove the two-hour parking limits for trucks.

VDOT had proposed closing 25 rest areas earlier this year in an attempt to close the $2.6 billion gap in the state's transportation budget.