Truck Stops · Ohio · November 14, 2026

Ohio Will Turn a Closed Route 11 Rest Area Into 52 Truck Parking Spaces

By Big Rig Daily Staff

Ohio plans to turn a closed rest area along northbound state Route 11 in Beaver Township into a 52-space truck parking lot, a project truckers should note comes with pit latrines and no running water.

The Route 11 plan

The old rest area sits on the border of Columbiana and Mahoning counties. The state transportation department plans to reopen it as truck parking, The Tribune Chronicle reports.

The lot would have 52 spaces and pit latrine bathrooms: walls, a toilet and paper products. A state spokesperson said, "But it won't have running water."

Construction is set to start Feb. 1. The estimated finish date is June 30, 2028.

A statewide parking push

The Beaver Township lot is part of a statewide plan to build truck parking at 33 sites in 18 counties. The goal is 1,400 new spaces. The total price tag is more than $104 million.

The state says that when truck drivers cannot find a spot, they often end up on a highway shoulder or ramp. A basic lot, even without running water, is meant to be safer than a shoulder at night.

Why it matters to truckers

A guaranteed space is useful, but this one would not open until summer 2028, and there would be no running water to wash up. Until the lot opens, truckers running Route 11 will still be looking for a legal place to stop overnight, which is the problem the statewide plan is meant to address. Ohio is one of several states adding truck parking, even as federal safety grants have put only a small share of money toward new spaces.

Quick facts

• Location: northbound state Route 11 in Beaver Township, on the Columbiana and Mahoning county line.
• Planned spaces: 52.
• Facilities: pit latrines with walls, a toilet and paper products, and no running water.
• Construction start: Feb. 1.
• Estimated finish: June 30, 2028.
• Statewide plan: 33 sites in 18 counties, 1,400 new spaces, more than $104 million.

FAQ

When would the Route 11 lot open?

The estimated finish date is June 30, 2028, with construction set to start Feb. 1.

Will there be running water or showers?

A state spokesperson said the pit latrines will have walls, a toilet and paper products, but will not have running water. Showers were not described in the report.

A question for readers

Truckers, would you rather have 52 safe spots with no running water in 2028, or keep hunting for a full truck stop at midnight?

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