The old rest areas along U.S. 33 in Meigs County both eastbound (pictured) and westbound will be modernized in a ODOT project. The groundbreaking for the project will be held at 10 a.m. on July 31.

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MEIGS COUNTY — The new rest areas on U.S. 33 in Meigs County will soon become a reality.

A groundbreaking event has been set from 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31, at the current facilities along U.S. 33.

According to Brenna K. Slavens, Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) District 10 Office of Communications, local and state elected officials have already committed to attend the event. Members of the public are also encouraged to attend.

The project will be completed by D.V. Weber Construction, who was awarded the $444,799 contract in June of 2012. The project is estimated to begin in August and be completed in the Winter of 2012.

The project will include the demolition of the old building and the construction of new ones at the current sites. The upgrades scheduled to take place include flushing toilets and sinks.

The long-discussed modernization project was announced by ODOT in late February.

“Modernization of these facilities is a much needed improvement to the U.S. 33 Connector, especially since these are the first rest areas north of Charleston, West Virginia,” said T. Steve Williams, District 10 deputy director.

ODOT officials worked side-by-side with the Meigs County Commissioners to get this project scheduled and progressing. The upgrades had been on the wish list of county officials for several years prior to the most recent funding announcement.

“We couldn’t be happier to finally see this upgrade happen,” said Tom Anderson, Meigs County Commissioner.

Both facilities, eastbound and westbound, will be modernized.

Construction is expected to begin mid- to late-summer 2012, and ODOT estimates the project should be completed by late fall 2012.

The rest area on Ohio 7 North in Kanauga was also renovated as part of the 2010-11 plan by ODOT. According to the ODOT website, the rest area remains closed.

A total of 44 rest areas in the state were scheduled for upgrade beginning in November 2010, including one along U.S. 50 in Athens County, two along U.S. 33 in Hocking County and the one along Ohio 7 in Gallia County.

According to ODOT, the projects include renovations to make the facilities more energy efficient.