Louisiana closing lesser-used rest areas

The Associated Press

3/3/2008

MONROE, La. — Louisiana officials have decided to close lesser-used rest areas in the state.

Of the 34 rest areas in the state, 23 have been permanently closed.

Travelers at the Tremont stop in north Louisiana between Calhoun and Choudrant on Sunday said they enjoy the parks and wish the facility were not closing. "As a biker, you would rather have more," said Scott Hefflebower, where he and his wife Laura, of Temperance, Mich., were taking a break off their Harley-Davidsons.

Dave McNish, a truck driver from Troutman, N.C., said 18-wheelers benefit from the rest stops.

"They need more because there is not enough parking for truck drivers," he said. He hopes that even if the rest stations are not going to be used any longer, they could be converted into parking areas for 18-wheelers.

Department of Transportation and Development rest-area manager Curtis Fletcher said officials traveled throughout the state and determined that some rest areas are no longer needed.

"We came up with 13 areas that could be closed and not cause people any inconvenience," Fletcher said. "To demolish and redesign these rest areas would cost between $8 and $10 million each. That is just too much money to take away from roads and bridges."

Large concrete barriers prevent travelers from using the Delhi facilities, which include restrooms and picnic tables.

Fletcher said it would cost at least $150,000 to demolish a rest area. Officials pay almost that price in one year to contract the workers to provide maintenance to each site.