Rest Stops on I-20 Closed (Ruston, Minden: construction, closing, live in)

[hdwell]

Has anyone noticed the rest stops on I-20 have closed near Ada Taylor and near Delhi. As you drive into La for Texas there is nothing for 95 miles. Whats up with this. That's a heck of thing to balance the budget with.

[Innotech]

just stop at a gas station or restaurant then.
No biggie.
The only time I ever use a rest stop is when I cross a state border and stop for maps/tourist attractions.

[SBCmetroguy]

I rarely use rest stops, unless it's an emergency (too far between truck stops and GOTTA GO) so I haven't even noticed the lack of them. Stopping at truck stops on a road trip allows me to use the bathroom, grab a drink, get a bite to eat, etc.

I did have to run over to Dallas yesterday, though, and noticed that Louisiana is totally rebuilding the rest stop just inside the state line. That's always a plus! Well, I assume they're rebuilding it anyway, not just razing it and forgetting about it.

[hdwell]

Many people enjoy a picnic lunch on long trips need to walk the dog or take a leisurely stroll at these stops. Gas stations and the like are not pleasant places with all the people bolting in and out of there. And try to find any park along I-20. None. Yet the traffic count is tremendous as it connects DFW with the Southeast. We cant afford these yet we can afford those bloomin pay raises for state lawmakers. Geesh!

[Innotech]

Originally Posted by hdwell

Many people enjoy a picnic lunch on long trips need to walk the dog or take a leisurely stroll at these stops. Gas stations and the like are not pleasant places with all the people bolting in and out of there. And try to find any park along I-20. None. Yet the traffic count is tremendous as it connects DFW with the Southeast. We cant afford these yet we can afford those bloomin pay raises for state lawmakers. Geesh!

apparently we can afford these because they are there. they just happen to be closed temporarily. Unless you think a rest stop can magically fix itself. I watched one all night and this magical event never occurred.

I have one more hting to say. Thank your lucky stars that you dont live in Michigan right now if you think Louisiana is bad.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by Innotech

apparently we can afford these because they are there. they just happen to be closed temporarily. Unless you think a rest stop can magically fix itself. I watched one all night and this magical event never occurred.

I have one more hting to say. Thank your lucky stars that you dont live in Michigan right now if you think Louisiana is bad.

No doubt. These stops have been closed for awhile like several months. I prefer the gas stations myself; however, old folks and people with incontinence can't always wait for a station to pop up. Between Minden and Arcadia there is a long stretch of nothing but pineywoods and not even so much as a gas station appears.

Are you a member of the La legislature? You seem pretty ready to defend them.

[Innotech]

Originally Posted by hdwell

No doubt. These stops have been closed for awhile like several months. I prefer the gas stations myself; however, old folks and people with incontinence can't always wait for a station to pop up. Between Minden and Arcadia there is a long stretch of nothing but pineywoods and not even so much as a gas station appears.

Are you a member of the La legislature? You seem pretty ready to defend them.

I dont see any reason to condemn La legislature for anything right now.

[darylwi]

I won't touch the whole 'not condemning the legislature for anything' right now,
but as for rest stops, it's pretty much the same thing in the southern part of the state. It appears that they're working to reconstruct all of them at the same time. Most of the ones down here look like they're all under construction, which is great, but at the same time? jeez. We did close the one between BTR and NOLA on I-10 several years back. It seemed to come right after a murder that happened there. I wonder if that was coincidence.
I for one support rest areas because when you get outside of LA, rest areas seem and tend to be cleaner, safer and provide decent restrooms, vending machines, maps and info, and green space. And when traveling long distance, I love not having to exit at a major interchange and then find a convenient store that may not have clean restrooms or a place to walk my parent's dog if they go. It just depends on what fancies you. I prefer a nice clean rest area. I especially fancy the all-in-one rest stops on northern tollroads where you can stop to get gas, eat, get info, walk, almost anything, without actually having to exit off the tollroad and therefore be subject to another toll. Whoever invented those was a genious. They should be on all major interstate highways.

[hdwell]

Originally Posted by darylwi

I won't touch the whole 'not condemning the legislature for anything' right now,
but as for rest stops, it's pretty much the same thing in the southern part of the state. It appears that they're working to reconstruct all of them at the same time. Most of the ones down here look like they're all under construction, which is great, but at the same time? jeez. We did close the one between BTR and NOLA on I-10 several years back. It seemed to come right after a murder that happened there. I wonder if that was coincidence.
I for one support rest areas because when you get outside of LA, rest areas seem and tend to be cleaner, safer and provide decent restrooms, vending machines, maps and info, and green space. And when traveling long distance, I love not having to exit at a major interchange and then find a convenient store that may not have clean restrooms or a place to walk my parent's dog if they go. It just depends on what fancies you. I prefer a nice clean rest area. I especially fancy the all-in-one rest stops on northern tollroads where you can stop to get gas, eat, get info, walk, almost anything, without actually having to exit off the tollroad and therefore be subject to another toll. Whoever invented those was a genious. They should be on all major interstate highways.

Thank you for the insight. All I really wanted to know was why they were closed. Our local fishwrapper never reports on these things. Unfortunately news is hard to get in this corner of the state.

[oilrod]

I drive north east Texas on 30 and 20, the rest stops at Mt. Vernon and between Mt Pleasant and new boston is closed and the entrance is plowed up and barricaded the same for the ones on 20 near Marshall.

With the ones near Minden this makes for a long drive for truckers that have time limits and money to make.

Is the Country that broke that Our inter State System is Closing all these down.
Are we worse off than most think?

Is this also happening in other area's?

oilrod

I drive between Tyler and Ruston then to Farmerville and to Eldorado ar.
There are no Rest stops open on the Interstate.
The Ones in N.E. Texas on I30 are Closed also.