PennDOT, Pa. Turnpike reopen some rest stops for truckers

Days after complaints from truckers and some elected officials, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is reopening all of its service plazas on a limited basis, while the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has reopened 13 of its 30 rest stops.

The stops were closed earlier this week because both agencies said they wanted to limit contact among motorists and employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that they had difficulty cleaning the facilities properly. Those decisions drew sharp criticism from groups such as the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and from state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, who said the trucking industry is vital now more than ever because it delivers emergency supplies and that drivers need safe facilities to rest.

PennDOT reopened its 13 busiest sites Thursday. They are located on Interstate 81, northbound and southbound stops in Luzerne and

Cumberland counties; on Interstate 79, northbound and southbound stops in Crawford County and the northbound stop in Allegheny County; and on Interstate 80, eastbound and westbound stops in Venango, Centre and Montour counties.

PennDOT spokeswoman Alexis Campbell said each site will have five portable toilets that will be cleaned once a day. Indoor facilities will not be open because the agency doesn’t have staffing available to keep them sanitized to prevent the virus’s spread.

The department will continue to monitor conditions to determine whether other sites can be reopened.

On the turnpike, the agency announced Thursday it would reopen all 17 of its service plazas on a limited basis at 7 a.m. Friday.

Restrooms at the facilities are open 24 hours a day, but there are limited options and hours for food service at most sites. The North Midway and Valley Forge plazas have food 24 hours a day, but the other sites will have food from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. after

Friday when food wasn’t available until 8 a.m.

The turnpike closed bathrooms and restaurants at all of its plazas Tuesday to limit social contact among motorists and service workers, but convenience stores and fuel service continued.

The agency placed portable toilets and two handwashing stations at each plaza, and those will stay in place.

Turnpike spokeswoman Rosanne Placey said the closure was necessary while restaurant operators HMS

Host and 7-Eleven devised a system to staff the facilities with limited employees and maintain sanitary conditions.

“We realize how vital [truckers’] service is, so we’re happy we can reopen even on a limited basis,” Ms. Placey said. “Even with this change, the food service will be open on a limited basis. We can’t have a lot of people there, and they can’t eat inside.”