โApr-06-2017 05:15 PM
โApr-10-2017 06:48 PM
โApr-10-2017 07:24 AM
โApr-09-2017 05:50 PM
Mr.Mark wrote:I know a few that closed but for safety reasons and other reasons but they were just a place to get off the interstate no facilities.I live close to Oak Ridge in N.E,Tn,jrobert01 wrote:down home wrote:Where in Tn.are they changing them to truck only areas and where have they closed any.That is what the tax is supposed to be for and road work and rebuilding bridges infrastructureI hope they don't close any the state budget is in good shape i am told.
Many have been shut down in Tn and turned into rest stops for Semis only. some are just closed.
However they are about to raise gas taxes by six cents and diesel taxes by ten cents.
Won't go for this cause though. New stadium, in the future, in Nasville and, to help Developers with roads in Oak Ridge area etc.
Recently, on my way to Goodlettsville, TN, to the Prevost center for service, I noticed two 'truck-only' rest areas between Jackson and Nashville (one on each side of the Interstate). To me, they looked like they might have been a weigh station or something.
Some of the rest stops are so small the Trucker/Driver's don't have a enough room to park. I have driven through several rest area's and left because there was no room for us to stop. I have stopped along the interstate in the emergency lane to use my own restroom (hate to do that, but no choice).
Safe travels,
MM.
โApr-09-2017 03:53 PM
westend wrote:fulltimedaniel wrote:Most of the larger rest stops in MN have an attendant on duty for part of the day. This is a State employee. He is tasked with keeping the interiors clean and functional. I believe they have separate grounds crews for trash pickup and landscaping. You really need to stop at one of these State Rest Areas to appreciate it. It makes a Hotel or restaurant restroom complex look like a junkyard, in comparison. Most of these are on the Interstate system. We also have smaller stops, maybe just a picnic table or two, on some of the longer State roads. There are at least three pull-offs I know about around the Mpls/St. Paul area that have either an artesian well or a hand pump for spring water. MN treats it's travelers well.
I think that part of the problem is the trend in the last few years to "man" rest areas 24 hours a day by contracted "cleaning" crews. This was thought to result in decreased vandalism and lower crime.
What actually happened is that those contractors did what should have been expected. Low balled the first contract bid and steadiy rose their prices over time. What this results in is higher and higher costs states feel they cant get rid of.
There are plenty of companies out there making modular bathroom systems (see some Parks)that are virtually vandal proof. They are low maintenance and can be hosed down.
Other states have invested millions in overly fancy grandiose rest areas that are like mini cities. These soak up more millions in upkeep and those contractors. Thus smaller more humble but badly needed rest areas get closed.
โApr-08-2017 03:25 AM
fulltimedaniel wrote:Most of the larger rest stops in MN have an attendant on duty for part of the day. This is a State employee. He is tasked with keeping the interiors clean and functional. I believe they have separate grounds crews for trash pickup and landscaping. You really need to stop at one of these State Rest Areas to appreciate it. It makes a Hotel or restaurant restroom complex look like a junkyard, in comparison. Most of these are on the Interstate system. We also have smaller stops, maybe just a picnic table or two, on some of the longer State roads. There are at least three pull-offs I know about around the Mpls/St. Paul area that have either an artesian well or a hand pump for spring water. MN treats it's travelers well.
I think that part of the problem is the trend in the last few years to "man" rest areas 24 hours a day by contracted "cleaning" crews. This was thought to result in decreased vandalism and lower crime.
What actually happened is that those contractors did what should have been expected. Low balled the first contract bid and steadiy rose their prices over time. What this results in is higher and higher costs states feel they cant get rid of.
There are plenty of companies out there making modular bathroom systems (see some Parks)that are virtually vandal proof. They are low maintenance and can be hosed down.
Other states have invested millions in overly fancy grandiose rest areas that are like mini cities. These soak up more millions in upkeep and those contractors. Thus smaller more humble but badly needed rest areas get closed.
โApr-07-2017 10:37 PM
โApr-07-2017 05:23 PM
jrobert01 wrote:down home wrote:Where in Tn.are they changing them to truck only areas and where have they closed any.That is what the tax is supposed to be for and road work and rebuilding bridges infrastructureI hope they don't close any the state budget is in good shape i am told.
Many have been shut down in Tn and turned into rest stops for Semis only. some are just closed.
However they are about to raise gas taxes by six cents and diesel taxes by ten cents.
Won't go for this cause though. New stadium, in the future, in Nasville and, to help Developers with roads in Oak Ridge area etc.
โApr-07-2017 05:03 PM
โApr-07-2017 04:31 PM
โApr-07-2017 03:52 PM
down home wrote:Where in Tn.are they changing them to truck only areas and where have they closed any.That is what the tax is supposed to be for and road work and rebuilding bridges infrastructureI hope they don't close any the state budget is in good shape i am told.
Many have been shut down in Tn and turned into rest stops for Semis only. some are just closed.
However they are about to raise gas taxes by six cents and diesel taxes by ten cents.
Won't go for this cause though. New stadium, in the future, in Nasville and, to help Developers with roads in Oak Ridge area etc.
โApr-07-2017 09:41 AM
fulltimedaniel wrote:
I think that part of the problem is the trend in the last few years to "man" rest areas 24 hours a day by contracted "cleaning" crews. This was thought to result in decreased vandalism and lower crime.
What actually happened is that those contractors did what should have been expected. Low balled the first contract bid and steadiy rose their prices over time. What this results in is higher and higher costs states feel they cant get rid of.
There are plenty of companies out there making modular bathroom systems (see some Parks)that are virtually vandal proof. They are low maintenance and can be hosed down.
Other states have invested millions in overly fancy grandiose rest areas that are like mini cities. These soak up more millions in upkeep and those contractors. Thus smaller more humble but badly needed rest areas get closed.
โApr-07-2017 08:49 AM
โApr-07-2017 08:47 AM
โApr-07-2017 08:01 AM