AASHTO Journal - Ohio DOT Opens Newly Reconstructed I-70 Rest Area

The Ohio Department of Transportation recently opened a newly reconstructed rest area on I-70 westbound in Muskingum County; a “reimagined” facility that is part of an ongoing initiative to improve safety and enhance the travel experience for motorists statewide.

[Above photo by Ohio DOT]

This renovated facility and surrounding site features upgrades such as the addition of native Ohio plants and landscaping, dog-walking trails, and rocking chairs.

A reconstructed facility also features a universal changing station in the family restroom; designed to meet the personal care needs of individuals of all heights, weights, and mobility levels. Ohio DOT noted that 29 rest areas statewide are slated to receive similar universal changing stations by the end of 2026.

Governor Mike DeWine (R) noted a statement that this I-70 rest area reconstruction project is also part of a plan unveiled in 2023 to refresh and re-imagine 36 rest areas statewide.

“This investment reflects Ohio’s commitment to traveler safety and promoting ‘Ohio, The Heart of it All,’” added Ohio DOT Director Pam Boratyn. “The upgraded rest area not only provides essential services but also serves as a gateway to discovering more of Ohio’s attractions, promoting both tourism and local exploration.”

The Ohio DOT has made other rest area upgrades as well over the last several years.

In 2023, a partnership between the RecoveryOhio initiative, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and the Ohio Department of Health’s Project DAWN – short for “Deaths Avoided With Naloxone” – installed Naloxone overdose treatment kits, known as “Naloxboxes,” at rest areas statewide.

Naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a nasal spray that can be provided to someone suffering from an opioid overdose, blocking the deadly effects of opioids on the brain and restoring consciousness and breathing. It is harmless if it is given to a person not experiencing an opioid overdose, the governor’s office said.

More than 130 boxes with Naloxone were installed at 65 rest areas statewide, said Ohio DOT, which noted that the common signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include unresponsiveness, slow or no breathing, blue lips or fingernails, choking or coughing, cold or clammy skin, small pupils, and dizziness or disorientation.