Yesterday, in response to the spread of COVID-19, Pennsylvania state officials decided to close all Pennsylvania highway rest stops. After the message was made public, many truck drivers were stuck trying to find sites where they could make stops to rest and use facilities. Industry officials said, “these closures were making the job of the haulers more difficult as they keep goods flowing during the pandemic.” Based on feedback from the transportation industry, PennDOT reopened the 13 most utilized rest areas by truckers out the 30 rest stops that were closed. “At these locations, PennDOT will be taking down the barricades on some facilities in critical locations and making them available for truck parking. Portable restroom facilities will be available at all these locations: each location will have five portable toilets, one of which is ADA-accessible, that will be cleaned once a day,” said Alexis Campbell a spokesperson for PennDOT.
To prevent any further spread of the COVID-19 virus, PennDOT will not be opening any indoor facilities. Electronic message boards will be located near rest areas that are open, so drivers are aware of open rest stops.
Here is the list of rest areas that are open on the PA highways:
- Interstate 79: Crawford County NB/SB;
- Interstate 79: Allegheny NB only;
- Interstate 80: Venango County EB/WB;
- Interstate 80: Centre County EB/WB;
- Interstate 80: Montour County EB/WB;
- Interstate 81: Luzerne County NB/SB;
- Interstate 81: Cumberland County NB/SB;
Sources:
https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/penndot-trucks-cornoavirus-rest-stop-ban-20200318.html
