A high school in Washington state has been converted into a temporary truck stop to support drivers who are hauling supplies during the COVID-19 emergency.
Woodland High School, located off of I-5 in Woodland, Washington, has been turned into a makeshift rest stop for long haul drivers as of March 24, 2020, according to a news release from Woodland Public Schools.
Woodland High School’s “unique location right off I-5’s exit 22 and facilities makes it a suitable rest area for truckers for I-5, the country’s only interstate highway connecting three countries – Mexico, Canada, and the United States,” Woodland Public Schools said.
School officials say that they decided to offer the high school facilities up to truckers after hearing that truck stops and rest area locations in other states had closed.
From Woodland Public Schools:
District administration teamed up with community volunteers to open the high school as a rest stop for long-haul truckers after receiving word that truck stops across the country would be closing. Truckers will have access to the school’s parking lot and shower facilities to rest and recuperate. The district also plans to work with area restaurants and community members to try to provide access to hot meals, however, there are restaurants and grocery stores nearby at the same exit including a Wal-Mart Supercenter located directly next door to the high school.
“The trucking industry is responsible for transporting the majority of goods and products our communities rely on each day,” said Superintendent Michael Green. “Providing the men and women who drive these trucks a place to rest and relax is vital in ensuring every community will receive the deliveries they need in this time of COVID-19 prevention.”