LANSING, MI (WNEM) -
Travelers along Michigan roadways will be relieved to know that the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will keep open nearly all of the state's 81 rest areas this coming winter. An MDOT spokesman says the agency will maintain the convenience and safety the rest areas provide to motorists.
Only five rest areas will be closed for the 17-week period beginning today and ending April 1, 2013. These closures are due to reduced use during winter months and safety concerns, such as steep entrance and exit drives and potentially slippery conditions on stairways between the parking lots and the buildings.
"Motorists, commercial drivers and tourists all rely on our network of rest areas year-round for the convenience and safety they provide," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "That's why we keep as many of them open throughout the winter as possible."
The rest areas that will be closed will have signs posted letting motorists know the areas will re-open in Spring.
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