Summertime Renovations Taking Place at Nine Highway Service Plazas

“I have to go to the bathroom." "I’m hungry." "I’m lost.”  

These are all common phrases often heard on a road trip. 

This summer is just around the corner and travelers should plan ahead as their favorite Connecticut rest area may be closed for renovations.

On April 17, the Branford northbound plaza closed on Interstate 95. Within a few weeks, the southbound plaza will close.

After renovations, McDonald’s will reopen on the northbound side while a Burger King will replace it on the southbound side. 

will feature the “core tenants” of Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Mobil, Fast Freddie’s Convenience Store, which will open in all service plazas. Larger plazas will feature more dining and retail choices. 

Motorists are encouraged to visit the nearby Milford and Madison plazas during construction.  

The Darien northbound facility on I-95 closed for renovations on March 22 while the southbound facility will close April 30, said Michael Modine, Director of Operations for Project Service, LLC. 

Project Service will renovate all 23 highway service plazas and has reopened plazas on Route 15 in North Haven and I-95 in Milford. 

The Connecticut Welcome Center has been temporarily relocated to the Fairfield Northbound plaza. 

When the Darien northbound facility reopens, travelers will see a new visitor center including “a state-of-the-art information kiosk, allowing travelers to research locations, make reservations, print directions, and pay for entertainment tickets,” a , adding that new solar panels on fuel canopy roofs will “aid in the reduction of power needed from the grid.”

Drivers can visit the nearby Fairfield rest areas during the project.

The four I-95 service plazas are expected to reopen by next spring. 

The Route 15 Fairfield Northbound Plaza has already closed with the southbound plaza expected to soon close. Both will reopen by February 2013. 

During its closure, motorists are encouraged to visit nearby facilities in New Canaan and Orange. 

, which closed for renovations in October 2011, are expected to reopen by the end of June.

In July, the I-395 Montville plaza is expected to close with a slated reopening in April 2013. 

Modine said Route 15 plazas in Greenwich and Fairfield will close for renovations this fall while Orange is slated to close in December.  

Starting next year, renovations will occur at I-95 plazas in Madison and Fairfield as well as Route 15 plazas in New Canaan and Orange. 

All service plazas are expected to be renovated and reopened by the end of 2014. 

Stay tuned to Patch for continuing updates on the Connecticut Service Plaza renovation project.