In order to address the massive half-billion dollar budget deficit, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy has proposed shutting down several rest stops in the state.
One of the locations that would be closed under Democratic governor’s budget plan is the busy Interstate 84 rest stop located at exit 28 in Southington.
According to the Southington Citizen, the closures would save the state roughly $1.2 million a year.
Republican State Senator Joe Markley was a vocal critic of the proposal. “It’s not where I would look for savings,” Markley said. “I’ve been familiar with that rest area all my life, and it always seems to be heavily used.”
“The rest area gives truck drivers a place to “pull over and nap,” he added. “That seems like something you want to provide.”
Under Malloy’s plan, the only remaining public rest stops on Interstate 84 would be at Exit 2 in Danbury on the eastbound side, and Exit 70 in Wellington on the westbound side.
There are several other private truck stops in the area, however none directly on Interstate 84.