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Good news for tour groups, truck drivers, and tourists traveling through the state of Virginia: Virginia's new governor, Bob McDonnell, has announced that all 19 of Virginia's closed rest stops and visitor centers will reopen over the next few months. The state had closed them in July 2009 in an effort to reduce the deficit in their state budget. McDonnell, elected last November, had promised during his campaign to reopen the rest stops. Not surprisingly, state tourism, as well as Virginia's public image, was hurt significantly by the closures. Click here to read McDonnell's official announcement.

Four of the closed rest stops are scheduled to reopen by February 17th, 2010; eight more will reopen by March 17th; and the rest by April 15th.

Click here for a PDF map showing all of Virginia's rest stops and welcome centers, both those now open and the ones scheduled to reopen.

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