The Connecticut Department of Transportation says it may shut down all of its state-run rest areas this summer due to budgetary shortfalls.
Conn. DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said the seven rest areas across the state will be closed by July 1st, if money is not appropriated to the state’s Special Transportation Fund.
“If we’re trying to choose between roads and bridges or rest areas, it’s a no-brainer,” he said.
The seven rest areas that will be shuttered, should the state fail to obtain funding, are as follows:
Interstate 95
- North Stonington
Interstate 91
- Middletown
Wallingford
Interstate 84
- Danbury
- Southington
- Willington (Eastbound)
- Willington (Westbound)
The closures will not affect the state’s service plazas, which offer food, gas, and restaurants, because they currently produce a profit for the state.
The rest areas, however, only have parking and restrooms, and require staffing from state employees.
The state says they’ve tried to obtain funding to keep the rest areas open by offering “corporate sponsorships,” but received little to no interest.