Va closing 18 interstate rest areas

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Virginia will close nearly half of its interstate rest areas July 21 as officials struggle with a $2.6 billion shortfall in the transportation budget.

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced Monday that all but one of the 19 rest areas scheduled to close will be shuttered later this month.

The West Manassas Welcome Center on Interstate 66 will close Sept. 16.

The agency says it will try to minimize the impact on truckers by providing an additional 225 truck parking spaces at the 23 rest areas and welcome centers that will remain open.

VDOT is getting the word out about the closings through its Web site, the 511 traveler information system and electronic message signs at the rest areas that will be shut down.

Related Link:

VDOT: Find out which rest areas will be closing.