The state Department of Transportation is changing the hours at several rest areas across the state.
Beginning Sept. 30, the rest areas will no longer be open 24 hours a day. The new hours will be:
8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Interstate 84 Willington
- Interstate 84 Southington
- Interstate 91 Wallingford
- Interstate 91 Middletown
- Interstate 95 North Stonington
7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Interstate 84 Danbury
Drivers will still be allowed to park in rest areas, but the buildings with restrooms inside will be locked. A porta potty at the rest area is Southington will still be available for use.
Local
DOT officials said they will save $2 million per year because they will no longer have to staff the buildings around the clock.
Some drivers were unhappy about the change.
“I think it’s going to be very inconvenient. Personally, I don’t want to use the porta potty,” said Julie, a Morristown, New Jersey resident who frequently travels to Maine.
“It’s pretty hard for us as drivers to pull into these places and not be able to use the restrooms,” said Ruly Castaneda, a truck driver from El Paso, Texas.
Castaneda, who was delivering pumpkins from New Mexico to a church in Connecticut, said finding ample parking at other rest areas or gas stations is difficult.
“I tried parking over at the TA and I was unable to because there’s not enough space,” said Castaneda.
