New York Thruway rest areas closing for renovations later this month

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, July 13, 2021:

New York State Thruway rest areas closing later this month for renovations

In an effort to improve 27 rest areas along the New York State Thruway, the NYS Thruway Authority will be temporarily closing ten of the rest areas later this month.

The rest areas will be closed beginning July 29 to start work on the $450 million project. Improvements will include increased truck parking, showers, laundry services and fitness centers.

The Thruway Authority said fuel services will remain available at all locations during construction. A Thruway Authority spokesperson said all existing truck parking will be available at rest areas under construction.

Variable message signs and roadway signage will alert drivers to construction at the service areas and the location of the next service area on the Thruway.

The following service areas will close on July 29 for redevelopment:

Ardsley (I-87 northbound, mile marker 6)
Plattekill (I-87 northbound, mile marker 65)
New Baltimore (I-87 northbound and southbound, mile marker 127)
Indian Castle (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 210)
Iroquois (I-90 westbound, mile marker 210)
Chittenango (I-90 westbound, mile marker 266)
Junius Ponds (I-90 westbound, mile marker 324)
Clifton Springs (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 337)
Clarence (I-90 westbound, mile marker 412)
Pembroke (I-90 eastbound, mile marker 397)

Construction is expected to begin in 2022 at an additional six service areas along I-87 and I-90.

The Thruway Authority also announced new food options will be available to customers as part of the redevelopment project.

Indiana troopers jumping in trucks Wednesday

If you're headed to or through Indiana on Wednesday, July 14, be aware that not every other truck you pass is simply making a trip like you. Some will have an Indiana State Trooper in the passenger seat looking for bad highway behaviors.

The Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Division, along with the Lowell, Toll Road, Indianapolis, and Sellersburg posts, will conduct a Trooper-in-a-Truck enforcement patrol that day. In the Pendleton District, CVED is teaming up with the ISP Aviation Section and district troopers to focus on the enforcement of unsafe and aggressive driving behaviors around commercial vehicles.

According to a statement from the ISP, its Trooper-in-a-Truck initiative places a trooper in a commercial motor vehicle operated by a CDL driver. The trooper will observe for violations as the CMV driver passes along the selected route. While no dangerous traffic violation will be ignored, the troopers in trucks will be observing primarily for violations of Indiana’s “hand free” law, according to the statement. Though most recent version of this law, which prohibits the use of hand-held communication devices in all but emergency situations, has been in effect for over a year, distracted driving continues to plague Indiana's roadways, ISP said.

“The Indiana Motor Truck Association and its member carriers are partnering with ISP in this endeavor by providing the trucks and drivers”, said Major Jon Smithers, ISP CVED Commander. “The IMTA and CVED have long had a strong and mutually supportive relationship as improving highway safety is a shared goal. The IMTA and its members have long been leading advocates for the implementation and enforcement of a strong and effective hands-free law and are passionate about educating our citizens about the dangers of distracted driving.”

Love's opens 10 new truck service locations

Love’s Travel Stops has opened nine new Speedco locations and one new Love’s Truck Care that offer tire, lube and light mechanical services, as well as DOT inspections, for truck drivers.

Love’s now has more than 415 Speedco and Love’s Truck Care locations across the country.

The new Speedco locations are at the following Love’s stores:

14375 Cornhusker Rd., Omaha, NE 68138
3550 W. Winnemucca, Winnemucca, NV 89445
3201 N. Ameristar Dr., Kansas City, MO 64161
8901 Hwy. 374, Green River, WY 82935
182 Claiborne Rd., Sandersville, MS 39477
1165 Aedc Rd., Hillsboro, TN 37342
9901 Schuster Way, Etna, OH 43018
4352 State Route 225, Diamond, OH 44412
8400 County Farm Rd., Irvington, AL 86544

The new Love’s Truck Care is located at 7748 Route 53, Bath, NY 14810.

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