Three rest areas along Interstate 95 in Virginia will be shut down as the state rebuilds the facilities, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Two of the rest areas are in Caroline County and the other just across state line. Demolition will begin mid-April with construction expected to about one year. Affected rest areas will reopen with temporary facilities during Memorial Day weekend this year. Specific locations of the rest areas undergoing an overhaul include:
Ladysmith rest area on I-95 NB in Caroline Country
Ladysmith rest area on I-95 SB in Caroline Country
Skippers rest area and welcome center on I-95 NB in Greensville County
Once construction is completed, the new facilities will be modernized with more restrooms. Additionally, the Ladysmith rest area on I-95 NB will include a new welcome centre.
The three rest areas were chosen for reconstruction because they were among the most visited and also among the oldest rest areas in the state. There are 43 rest areas in Virginia drawing 33 million people each year. Ladysmith rest areas are visited by more than 3 million people, and the Skipper rest area sees about 1.3 million visitors a year.
