CDOT staff gave an update on rest-area work, saying the agency has had a dedicated funding stream since fiscal year 2023 and is now advancing larger replacement projects and prototype designs to improve operations and reduce deferred maintenance.

Hope, rest area program lead, summarized the program's funding and projects: “The rest areas do share about $4,000,000 annually over all 26 rest areas.” She said major work underway includes a full replacement at Vail Pass and near-term gut renovations and repairs at other sites.

Notable projects and costs
- Vail Pass: CDOT described a full replacement of the busiest rest area, with expanded parking, new wastewater/freshwater systems, interpretive elements, and site work. Hope said the Vail Pass project’s total cost is about $24,000,000 and construction is targeted for late summer completion.
- Shaw Creek: The existing 1968-era building is closed for demolition and will be replaced with a prototype design that adds an integrated maintenance garage. The estimated cost for Shaw Creek is $4,500,000 and CDOT expects the new facility by spring next year.
- Pueblo consolidation: CDOT is planning a combined rest area at Exit 108 to replace separate northbound and southbound Pueblo facilities; the plan is to coordinate the rest-area project with a nearby interchange/underpass and target completion in 2028. Hope said Pueblo West Water agreed to provide water and sewer capacity needed for the new site.
- Glenwood Canyon: CDOT is starting a context-sensitive solutions process this year and anticipates design next year; demolition and rebuild of three Glenwood Canyon rest areas is planned in 2027–2029 with a combined estimated cost of roughly $21,000,000.

Program features and constraints
- Dedicated funding: CDOT said it now has about $4 million a year for the 26 rest areas, with roughly 15% distributed to regions for controlled and deferred maintenance and the remainder focused on major repairs and replacements.
- Revenue restrictions: Hope noted that revenue generation at rest areas is prohibited by policy (CDOT cannot compete with private gas stations), which limits funding sources beyond state allocations or partner grants.
- Phased funding need: Several rest-area replacements require multiple years to collect the necessary capital; CDOT said large projects will be funded across multiple budget cycles.

Ending: CDOT said it plans to continue using a prototype-building approach to realize cost savings on future replacements and to coordinate rest-area projects with regional infrastructure (for example, the Pueblo interchange). Officials asked regions to coordinate on closures and operations while work proceeds.