Seminole County leaders want two rest areas along Interstate 4 in Longwood shut down.

  • Seminole County leaders pushing to close I-4 rest areas
  • Residents complain of noise, air pollution near rest areas
  • Truck drivers say rest areas are a huge help to them

For years, people who live nearby have complained about noise, air pollution and safety concerns from trucks parked at the rest areas.

Truck driver Dana Fowler said Tuesday that after driving through Central Florida on eastbound I-4, he was happy to be able to use the Longwood rest area.

"This traffic that's going on, it took a lot of time from my clock, so if this rest station wasn't here, I would have run out of time, and it would've put me in violation," Fowler said.

Heading east toward Volusia County, the Longwood rest stop is the last rest area on I-4. Fowler said it was the only safe spot he found to stop and get some sleep.

“This is 80,000 pounds of danger, so if I'm tired, and I don't have a spot to pull over and something happens... This is a lifesaver,” Fowler said.

But for many years now, people who live near the rest area see Fowler’s and other trucks as a problem. They've complained the trucks are too noisy, cause air pollution in the area and are a safety hazard because there are so many of them.

Seminole County leaders responded by drafting a resolution, asking the Florida Department of Transportation to close the Longwood rest areas. Several residents recently voiced their concerns at a county commission meeting.

"We're not talking about truckers stopping and resting. We're talking about truckers who are coming in early, staying at that truck stop and using it to stage so they can leave the next morning and get to their place in Orange County in order to drop things off," said Dominick Salfi, a Longwood resident.

Commissioners are waiting on data from a study on flooding issues in the area before sending their request to close the rest areas to the Florida Department of Transportation.

FDOT said it has plans to make changes at the rest areas to increase safety. The work is part of the I-4 Ultimate construction project.

Fowler thinks closing the rest areas would make it much more difficult to do his job, and safety is a concern for him.

"I would really be devastated if they got rid of these rest areas, because it's really hard for truckers to find a spot to park as it is," Fowler said.

One major problem residents, drivers and county leaders were concerned about was trucks parking along the entrance and exit ramps at the rest area, after parking spots filled up.

FDOT has installed "no parking" signs and with law enforcement patrolling the area, residents say they have noticed less of that issue lately.