Stanislaus County – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin construction next month to overhaul the Westley Safety Roadside Rest Areas on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5).
The rest areas will close on July 1, 2024, with reopening expected in the fall of 2025.
Located between Tracy and Patterson, the Westley Rest Area is a valuable respite for travelers on I-5. Over the past 20 years, the rest area was upgraded to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the wastewater systems were rebuilt, and electric vehicle charging stations and backup generators were added. The 57-year-old facilities, however, are now due for significant updates.
Larger, more modern restrooms and vending machine buildings will replace the existing facilities. A California Highway Patrol field office and maintenance crew room will be added. The rest areas will comply with the California Green Building Code and feature low-flow plumbing, drought-tolerant landscaping, and recycled water for irrigation.
New additions to both rest areas include dog parks with pet watering stations, a lawn with five individual shaded picnic tables and one large group picnic area, an all-weather emergency access road, and a water storage tank for fire suppression.
A wall around the picnic area will feature sand-blasted images that depict the region's landscape and history. Interpretive materials will be installed throughout the rest area to educate visitors about the San Joaquin Valley’s wildlife, past and present ecosystems, agriculture, and the pioneers for whom the nearby towns of Westly and Grayson were named.
TSI Engineering Inc. of North Highlands, CA will perform this $24.6 million project.
Schedules are subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, equipment and materials availability, and construction-related issues.
For more information about transportation and other infrastructure projects funded with state and federal investments, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.
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