(KDOT) The closure of two rest areas a mile west of Junction City on I-70 is expected to save the state more than $200,000 a year. The east and westbound rest areas were closed Monday. Because of their close proximity to private sector businesses, travelers will still have access to the same services in addition to food and fuel. “The cost of maintaining the rest areas had become prohibitive considering the duplicated services in the area,” said District Engineer Randy West of the Kansas Department of Transportation. “Maintenance costs exceeded $200,000 a year and the rest areas were also subject to waterline breaks and occasional acts of vandalism.”The process of evaluating the impact of closing the rest areas involved KDOT and local officials.“Because of nearby facilities, there is little risk of significant impact to I-70 travelers,” West said.
