Georgia highway rest areas get $20 million facelift
Georgia’s highway rest areas are getting a $20 million facelift to make them more appealing to Peach State travelers.
Four of the state’s 17 rest areas already have been refurbished, and five more are under construction. The rest are scheduled for construction over the next year.
Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry told the State Transportation Board Wednesday the rest areas are old and in need of repair.
Two rest areas in in Laurens County were in such poor condition they’re being torn down and replaced. At the others, improvements range from remodeled bathrooms and new roofs to better lighting and picnic tables.
The money for the work comes from funds generated by advertisements on the state’s blue highway signs.
“We really haven’t had the budget to take care of them,” McMurry said. “Now that we have them in good repair, we need to take care of them.”
About the Author
David Wickert writes about the state budget, finance and voting issues. Previously, he covered local government and politics in Gwinnett and Fulton counties. Before moving to Atlanta, he worked at newspapers in Illinois, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
