Rest stops haven’t always had the best reputation for being the nicest, safest, or cleanest option for motorists, but The Texas Department of Transportation wanted to change that. TxDoT held a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to mark the opening of two safety rest stops located near the city of Ranger. The rest stops, a project 15-years in the making, boast historical information and artifacts, maps, Model-T Ford trucks, playgrounds, and pavilions with benches looking out over the hill country. The rest stops are located within 10 miles of each other on both the eastbound and westbound sides of I-20.
Attending the event was Eastland County Judge Rex Fields, who fought hard for property rights for the rest stops, and Jim Keffer, Texas House of Representatives member from District 60.
CEO David Toogood, VP of Operations Ben Ezzell, and VP of Business Development Kate Teichman also attended along with the WSC crew who has taken on facility maintenance at both locations. The rest stops will have a minimum of one employee at each location at all times, day or night. TXDoT strategically placed the rest stops at the halfway point between Abilene and Fort Worth in hopes of decreasing the high number of fatalities that occur from driver fatigue. Also, placing the stops near the steep hill on I-20 makes it ideal for emergency responder staging during severe weather.
With these beautiful safe rest stops located on such a significant highway, WSC took initiative and introduced visitor books at each location, showcasing who visited, and where from. WSC is proud to be in charge of keeping these wonderful facilities clean, safe, and inviting.
