The rest areas on US Route 33 in Meigs County remain closed after work to modernize them began in August 2012.

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MEIGS COUNTY — More than a year after the announcement ok in Meigs County, those modern facilities remain closed to the public.

Ohio Department of Transportation District 10 Public Information Officer David Rose said earlier this month that ODOT is working to finalize a permit with the Department of Commerce which is needed to complete the project. That permit will allow the project to move toward completion.

He stated that there were a few other weather related delays, including the placement of a larger transformer by AEP which was delayed due to storms on the east coast.

The project was expected to be completed in late fall 2012, as announced by ODOT.

On February 24, 2012, ODOT announced that the long-discussed modernization project of the rest areas on U.S. 33 in Meigs County would be completed. The project was to include modernization of facilities at both current locations on U.S. 33 near Darwin.

“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 ODOT District 10 Deputy Director T. Steve Williams in the announcement.

The project was expected to be completed in late fall 2012 — before the Thanksgiving travel holiday — according to original estimates. That was still the time schedule at the groundbreaking ceremony in late July 2012.

In mid-November, then ODOT District 10 Public Information Officer Brenna Slavens estimated the project to be completed within two to three weeks, with the water line upgrade nearly completed.

Modernization and upgrades included flushing toilets and running water. According to Rose, updates to the water lines and electric have also been completed. The extra upgrades were needed to make the facility more energy efficient.

The project was awarded to D.V. Weber Construction in June 2012, with a total cost of $444,799. Work began in August, with the facilities closed the first week of September to allow for demolition work to begin and the new buildings to be placed.