Johnston County rest areas to close

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Tags:

i40, johnston county, local/state

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. (WTVD) -- The North Carolina Department of Transportation is shutting down the rest areas in Johnston County, near Benson, for eight months beginning March 1.

The $1.5 million dollar project involves demolishing the old buildings, and putting up new modern facilities.

The DOT said approximately 850,000 people visited both rest areas in 2011, up from 720,000 in 2010.

The new facilities will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. They will feature LED light fixtures and a new solar thermal hot water system, which will provide lower energy costs.

Both rest areas will be closed for construction at the same time.

The next rest area for I-40 Eastbound traffic is approximately 40 miles away in Duplin County. The next rest area for I-40 West traffic is approximately 90 miles away in Alamance County on I-40 West/I-85 South.