PennDOT reopens 23 rest stops on Pennsylvania interstates

PennDOT has reopened 23 of the state’s 30 rest areas, which had been closed to slow the spread of coronavirus.

The department partially reopened 13 facilities last week but kept indoor restrooms closed while providing portable restrooms and handwashing facilities.

Those 13 are among the 23 rest areas returned to full service, which include the rest stop on Interstate 79 north in Allegheny County.

“While unnecessary travel is discouraged as we all do our part to help mitigate the spread of covid-19, we understand that some trips are necessary and that access to rest areas is important,” acting PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said in a statement. “We are constantly evaluating our actions and services in responding to this emergency and will make adjustments where we can safely do so.”

The facilities will receive extra cleaning and maintenance.

PennDOT officials are considering when to reopen the remaining seven rest areas.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission closed its 17 service plazas March 17 but reversed course and reopened them two days later in response to criticism from truck drivers and others.

The Turnpike Commission’s plazas are managed separately from PennDOT’s rest areas.

The full list of open rest areas:

• Interstate 79 north in Allegheny County, 8 miles north of Exit 45
• Interstate 79 north in Crawford County, 8 miles north of Exit 154
• Interstate 79 south in Crawford County, 3 miles south of Exit 166
• Interstate 79 north in Lawrence County, 3.5 miles north of Exit 105
• Interstate 79 south in Lawrence County, 3.5 miles south of Exit 113
• Interstate 79 north in Mercer County, 5 miles south of Exit 141
• Interstate 79 south in Mercer County, 6 miles north of Exit 130
• Interstate 80 east in Centre County, 13 miles east of Exit 133
• Interstate 80 west in Centre County, 0.5 miles west of Exit 147
• Interstate 80 east in Jefferson County, 1 mile east of Exit 86
• Interstate 80 west in Jefferson County, 10 miles west of Exit 97
• Interstate 80 east in Montour County, 4.5 miles east of Exit 215
• Interstate 80 west in Montour County, 4.5 miles west of Exit 224
• Interstate 80 east in Venango County, 0.5 miles east of Exit 29
• Interstate 80 west in Venango County, 4 miles west of Exit 35
• Interstate 81 north in Cumberland County, 0.5 miles north of Exit 37
• Interstate 81 south in Cumberland County, 5.5 miles south of Exit 44
• Interstate 81 north in Lackawanna County, .5 miles north of Exit 202
• Interstate 81 north in Luzerne County, 1.5 miles north of Exit 155
• Interstate 81 south in Luzerne County, 1.5 miles south of Exit 159
• Interstate 81 south in Susquehanna County, 4 miles south of Exit 211
• Interstate 84 east in Pike County, 6 miles east of Exit 20
• Interstate 84 west in Pike County, 1 mile west of Exit 26