Iowa unveils plan to shut down 8 rest areas, add nearly 250 truck parking spaces

The Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) announced that they will be closing down multiple rest area locations while also adding hundreds of truck parking spaces to their network.

The announcement came on August 12 when Iowa DOT plans to close eight of the state’s 38 full-service rest area locations in addition to 10 parking-only rest area locations.

Most of these closures will occur over the next eight years “when the facilities reach the end of their useful life.”

Iowa DOT will also be adding 247 truck parking spaces to their system, thanks in part to the planned upgrade and expansion of truck parking at the six remaining strategically located parking-only rest areas.

“…We heard significant feedback, especially regarding the need for increased truck parking along the transportation system. This allowed us to re-evaluate the implementation strategy and coordinate our plans with a freight truck parking study which assessed the current system’s truck parking needs. This study documented the need to add additional truck parking which is reflected as part of the final rest area plan,” Iowa DOT explained.

The rest area plan also includes facility upgrades to 12 rest area locations prior to 2033.