IDOT continues work to upgrade rest areas, expand truck parking

IDOT has received a $13.2 million federal grant for expanded truck parking  and  Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades at two Southern Illinois rest areas. The Fort Massac rest area on Interstate 24 in Metropolis and the Salt Kettle rest area on I-74 near Oakwood will gain additional truck stalls, along with other improvements. The total project cost is estimated at $26.3 million, with the state covering the commitment not provided by the federal grant.

The grant will fund demolition and reconstruction at the Fort Massac rest area to add up to four assisted-use restrooms and increase the number of truck parking stalls from 19 to 64 while adding ADA-compliant ones. Construction is expected to start early next year and take approximately 18 months.

Improvements to the Salt Kettle rest area will include the addition of up to 41 new truck stalls, four ADA-compliant ones and additional road improvements. The project is expected to be let in 2027, with construction starting by fall of that year.

The upgrades are part of a broader effort to help rest areas better meet the evolving needs of the modern traveling public. Improvements to the 53 IDOT-maintained rest areas throughout Illinois are being made as funding is available with upgrades such as building remodels, improved entrance and exit ramps, and extra restrooms, including assisted-use restrooms that provide amenities such as adult power lifts, changing tables and private space for travelers who have special needs. Parking lots, sidewalks and buildings are also being upgraded for full ADA compliance.

The new Trail of Tears rest area near Anna opened in 2025 after nearly five years of construction. With a stop on each direction of I-57, the rest area was constructed with modern designs and amenities that are serving as a model for others, including larger lobby spaces with more natural light, enhanced safety measures and more. 

Rest areas play a critical role in state infrastructure, offering the estimated hundreds of thousands of people who use them each year with a place to rest. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's most recent statistics, drowsy driving contributes to more than 650 deaths each year, with studies showing that crashes caused by fatigue decrease on roads with abundant opportunities to stop and recharge.

Funding for the Fort Massac and Salt Kettle rest area upgrades is made possible by the federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant program, or BUILD, which is investing $1.73 billion into 127 projects in 52 states, territories and the District of Columbia for critical roadway, transit, rail, maritime and aviation infrastructure improvements. 

Over half of the freight tonnage in Illinois is transported by truck. As of 2019, trucks in Illinois carried about 848 million tons of goods worth about $1.3 trillion. There are approximately 11,000 truck parking spots statewide, primarily at safety rest areas along interstates. There are 54 IDOT-maintained rest areas, along with 91 privately operated truck stops throughout the state. Approximately 94% of existing truck spaces see regular use.