Rest Area Renaissance: Revitalizing Facilities in Need of a Refresh, Starting with I-57's Trail of Tears

Rest Area Renaissance: Revitalizing Facilities in Need of a Refresh, Starting with I-57's Trail of Tears

The prototype for the next generation of rest areas in Illinois is open and accepting visitors, with more coming soon to an interstate near you. 

Late last year, the Illinois Department of Transportation debuted the new Trail of Tears rest area along Interstate 57 near Anna in Southern Illinois, following almost five years of construction. The nearly $15 million project was a joint effort between IDOT and the Illinois Capital Development Board.

The rest area is the first of several to be demolished and rebuilt in Illinois in the coming months and years.

 With one in each direction on I-57, the Trail of Tears rest areas were constructed with modern designs and amenities that will serve as a model for others.  

The upgrade is apparent the moment you walk inside.

Scott Hall, who is helping to oversee the transition as the department's roadside maintenance manager, said the reviews so far have been all positive.

 "People love it. We're getting compliments all the time," Hall said. "Everything is built according to today's building standards." 

Among the improvements: 

• Brighter, airier and larger lobby spaces with more windows and natural light.  
• Stone facades with neutral colors - a departure from the darker colors typical of their predecessors. 
• Connections to municipal water and sewer systems, retiring outdated well and septic systems prone to failure and extended closures.   
• Extra restrooms. Two will be open at all times while the others are cleaned - welcome relief to the traveler in need of an urgent pitstop.  
• Parking lots, sidewalks and buildings fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.   
• Assisted-use restrooms with an adult power lift, changing tables and private space for travelers who have special needs.  
• New drinking fountains, vending machines, picnic tables and exercise areas.  
• Improved entrance and exit ramps with bigger parking lots with more space, especially for truckers. At Trail of Tears, a combined 35 spots have been added for trucks heading northbound and southbound.  

Enhanced safety measures with an Illinois State Police office, improved parking lot lighting, additional security cameras and Code Blue emergency phones inside and outside.

Although Trail of Tears is just one of 53 rest areas maintained by IDOT, the project represents a sort of renaissance for facilities long synonymous with the great American road trip. The renovation creates a more welcoming space that better reflects the evolving needs of the modern traveling public

While IDOT does not keep count, the number of people who use Illinois rest areas each year is estimated in the hundreds of thousands. The importance of rest areas and the part they play in the nation's supply chain were put on full display during the pandemic a few years ago.

"These facilities are vital for the trucking industry, which is facing a nationwide parking shortage," Hall said. "During COVID-19, they played a huge role by offering a place to stop and rest when many businesses and other facilities were closed as commercial motor vehicle drivers delivered food, medical supplies and other critical supplies across the nation." 

They also provide an important safety function, offering a spot to relax and recharge for any driver who's been on the road too long. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's most recent statistics, drowsy driving contributes to more than 650 deaths a year, with studies showing crashes caused by fatigue decreasing on roads with abundant opportunities to stop and recharge.

In Illinois, most rest areas are at least 50 years old. With the buildings at the end of their useful life and in need of a refresh, IDOT launched a study in 2020, seeking public input to determine how the next iteration should look. Trail of Tears was chosen as the model for others in the works, but each will be designed to reflect local character and historical significance.

The lobby floor of Trail of Tears, for example, features a terrazzo design depicting the path of the forced displacement of Native Americans by the federal government, identifying key markers and educational reminders of the tragic event in American history. 

"They all will have their own flavor and unique aspects, but they will have the same design elements," Hall said. "It was the main features we want, but we are leaving it to the architectural firms to come up with their own ideas, which we approve."  

Hall said the assisted-use restrooms have been a special point of pride for staff working on the project.

"There aren't a lot of these types of facilities anywhere for people who are traveling," he said. "They have been very well-received with the public."

What's next?

Construction is well underway for an opening later this year of the Rail Splitter rest area along I-55 north of Springfield. The state's first rest area ever built will have an additional 32 truck parking stalls.

Farther south on I-55, the Coalfield rest area near Waggoner also is under construction, with a combined 85 parking spaces added for trucks.

On I-74, the rebuild of the Farmland rest area near Farmers City is set to begin this year.

The Fort Massac rest area on I-24 near Metropolis and the National Trail on I-70 near Effingham are in the design phase, with construction anticipated to begin in about a year.

Hall said the schedule for the remainder will be dependent upon funding availability and project readiness.

"It is going to take a while to get them all to where we want them to be, but we will continue to upgrade them as soon as possible with the funds we have available," Hall added. "I want to get them where we know all of these are well on their way."