As part of a statewide initiative to significantly boost truck parking in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) will convert the existing Medina County north and southbound I-71 rest areas into a new truck parking facility.
The rest area closed on March 2 to begin demolition on the current site.
"There are additional rest areas within 30 miles of this location and upgrading these rest areas would have required a significant investment," said ODOT District 3 Deputy Director Bob Weaver. "Converting them to truck parking will help to improve safety for all motorists along the I-71 corridor."
The project includes expanding from 10 to 29 truck parking spaces at the I-71 northbound location and from 20 to 66 truck parking spaces at the I-71 southbound location. In addition to parking spaces, the site will include lighting and a restroom facility. In total the project will cost approximately $6.8 million.
On average, about 3,000 trucks pass the I-71 rest areas in Medina County each day.
A recent national study confirmed the need for additional commercial truck parking and identified locations where it's needed. It also found there's one parking space for every 11 trucks on the road.
In 2024, Gov. Mike DeWine directed ODOT to address the lack of truck parking in the state and to begin construction of additional truck parking sites as soon as possible. Following an extensive review of ODOT property, Ohio will add at least 1,400 new truck parking spaces at 33 sites across the state.
ODOT estimates freight volume will increase 26 percent by 2045. Ohio is a trucking hub due to the state's location within a day's drive of 60 percent of the United States and Canadian population and reliable and vast highway network.
For more information and construction schedule, visit transportation.ohio.gov/projects/mega-projects/mega-projects/truck-parking.
Additional Truck Parking Efforts
- 257 truck parking spaces are being added during reconstruction of rest areas across the state.
- 144 spaces are being added at decommissioned highway weigh stations.
- 138 spaces will be constructed through the INFRA grant (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects program) along I-70 in Preble County, and I-80 in Trumbull County.
Construction Cost
- Project cost is estimated at $150 million, funded through the state transportation budget.
- All parking will be constructed on existing state right-of-way. Additional property acquisition is not needed.
Project Schedule
- Construction will occur May 2026 through late 2027 in every region of the state:
- Approximately 20, separate construction contracts will be awarded.
- Construction of the first sites — at least two sites in each region — will occur May through late 2026.
- The remaining sites will be constructed April through late 2027.
- By late 2027, approximately 1,400 commercial truck sites will be added statewide.
