PHOENIX – Truck drivers looking for places to rest can now find the total number of truck parking spaces at any of Arizona’s rest areas on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Arizona Traveler Information 511 website.

This new feature at az511.gov allows commercial vehicle drivers to see how many total spaces are available at each rest area on their routes. Click on the ‘Map Legend’ box on the right-hand side of the screen and check the box next to ‘Rest Areas’ to bring up the rest areas on the map. Clicking on a rest area location will show details including the total number of truck spaces.

There currently are 430 total truck parking spaces at the state’s 27 rest area facilities.

“Providing opportunities for long-haul truckers to rest is important in keeping commerce flowing in Arizona,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “During this unprecedented time, truckers have been key to keeping grocery stores stocked and medical facilities supplied. Facilitating these safe locations for rest is key to ADOT’s mission.”

And more is on the horizon: Last year, Arizona and three other states that are part of the I-10 Corridor Coalition, California, New Mexico and Texas, received a federal grant to fund development of a program that will alert commercial truck drivers to available truck parking at Interstate 10 rest areas. 

During fiscal year 2019, nearly 7.5 million commercial trucks entered Arizona.

In addition to the hundreds of truck parking spaces available at rest areas, ADOT temporarily reopened two long-shuttered northern Arizona rest areas, Parks on Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff and Christensen on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff, to provide 44 additional parking spaces during the current public health situation. 

Meanwhile, there are projects underway at two I-40 rest areas, Haviland and Meteor Crater, to expand truck parking spaces by 38 at Haviland and 60 at Meteor Crater. The project at Haviland was deemed an emergency due to the current public health situation. The expansion at Meteor Crater was added to an existing project to renovate the rest area. Both truck parking expansion projects are scheduled to wrap up this summer.

Nearly 1.5 million users have accessed az511.gov since the redesigned website launched in March 2019. November and December saw the most users, with more than 450,000 visiting the site. For more information, please visit az511.gov and azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – A project fast-tracked by the Arizona Department of Transportation will add 38 truck parking spaces to the Haviland Rest Area along I-40 west of Kingman.

Deemed an emergency project due to the current public health situation, the upgrade will allow more commercial drivers to rest as they travel long distances delivering essential supplies. The State Transportation Board awarded the $3.98 million project to Fann Contracting on Tuesday. 

ADOT is adding 22 truck parking spaces to the existing seven spaces at the eastbound rest area and 16 spaces to the existing seven spaces at the westbound rest area. The facilities are located between mileposts 22 and 23, about 25 miles southwest of Kingman. 

“This project helps everyone get safely home by making it easier for long-haul truck drivers to get the rest they need while they support our communities,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said.

The project is scheduled to start in the next week and is expected to be complete by July.

Haviland Rest Area will remain open and available for commercial vehicles and other travelers during the work.

In addition to moving this project forward to support trucking, ADOT has temporarily reopened the Parks and Christensen rest areas, located along I-40 and I-17 respectively in northern Arizona, exclusively for commercial vehicles. Governor Ducey and ADOT also raised the weight limit for commercial vehicles hauling supplies for the COVID-19 relief effort to 90,000 pounds, making it more efficient to get supplies to grocery stores and medical facilities.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov. 

PHOENIX – To help the long-haul truckers keeping Arizonans supplied with food and essentials, Governor Doug Ducey today issued an Executive Order allowing food trucks to operate at eight Arizona Department of Transportation rest areas. While commercial activity is ordinarily prohibited at federally funded rest areas, the Federal Highway Administration recently permitted states to allow food trucks at rest areas while the national emergency declaration remains in effect.

“We want to ensure we’re doing everything we can to support the truck drivers who are working long hours to keep our grocery stores stocked and our medical professionals equipped,” Governor Ducey said. “Today’s order will allow long-haul truck drivers to buy nutritious food during their trips, and will help increase business for food trucks at this time. Arizona will emerge from this public health challenge stronger by supporting each other and staying connected.”

To support Governor Ducey’s Executive Order, the Arizona Department of Transportation has developed a permit process for food truck owners. Owners can visit azdot.gov/permits and click on the Encroachment Permits tab to get more information and apply for a permit to sell food at the rest areas. There’s no cost for the permit, and it will be good for 30 days.

The program will initially include eight rest areas along interstate freeways: Sunset Point and Christensen along I-17; Haviland, Parks and Meteor Crater along I-40; and Ehrenberg, Burnt Wells and Sacaton along I-10. More rest areas may be added depending on demand.

Food trucks permitted to operate at rest areas will have to abide by all federal, state and local guidelines for operation and public interaction during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Earlier this month, ADOT reopened the Parks and Christensen rest areas, located along I-40 and I-17 respectively in northern Arizona, exclusively for commercial vehicles to use. Governor Ducey and ADOT also raised the weight limit for commercial vehicles hauling supplies for the coronavirus relief effort to 90,000 pounds, making it more efficient to get supplies to grocery stores and medical facilities.

View the Executive Order HERE.

For more information, please visit azdot.gov.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has temporarily reopened two long-shuttered northern Arizona rest areas to support truckers hauling essentials during the current public health situation.

The Parks Rest Area along Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff (milepost 182) and the Christensen Rest Area on Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff (milepost 324) offer parking, portable toilets and handwashing stations exclusively for commercial vehicle drivers.

“Long-haul truckers are working tirelessly to support our nation during this difficult time, and we will do all we can to support them,” ADOT Director John Halikowski said. “Opening these temporary rest stops provides a place for drivers to get the rest they need as they help all of us.” 

ADOT crews have been busy restriping the parking lots of both rest areas. Portable toilets and handwashing stations have been brought in, as well as trash bins. There will be staff at the rest areas for a few hours every day.

The Parks and Christensen rest areas are only available to commercial vehicles. Other ADOT rest areas remain open for all travelers, with staff following enhanced sanitation protocols including regularly wiping down frequently touched surfaces.

With services available in and around Flagstaff, and along I-40 and I-17, Christensen closed in 2002 and Parks closed in 2009.There are no plans to reopen either rest area permanently. 

To learn more about other ADOT’s efforts to support Arizonans during the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit azdot.gov/covid-19-resource-center.

PHOENIX – The Haviland Rest Area along Interstate 40 west of Kingman has reopened after $3.6 million in improvements, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

The popular rest stop, which is located at milepost 23 about 30 miles west of Kingman, has upgraded restrooms, ramadas, vendor kiosks and utility infrastructure. New well equipment and a water transmission line were also part of the upgrades. Septic tanks and sewer lines were also replaced. 

It is the most recent rest area to undergo renovations in recent years. ADOT has been investing in upgrades to older rest areas that have been in place for as long as 50 years. 

The Sacaton Rest Area on Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande was renovated and reopened late last year. The Mohawk Rest Area on Interstate 8 reopened in 2017 following renovations while the Texas Canyon and San Simon rest areas on I-10 between Tucson and New Mexico reopened with new facilities and infrastructure in 2016. 

More information on rest areas can be found at azdot.gov/RestAreas.