Service Plazas and Rest Areas
The turnpike has 13 service plazas (officially called service stations). All are open 24 hours and have fuel service. Most have fast-food service; all of these have a McDonald's. They replaced sit-down dining originally featured in some plazas. Some have small gift shops. The two easternmost plazas do not have food service, only gas stations and convenience stores. All plazas have public restrooms. Since their construction the plazas had pay phones. In recent years, with the widespread use of cellular phones, many of the pay phones have been reduced, or removed entirely. The Darien and Branford service areas are currently closed for renovations with no access to or from the service areas.
- Darien southbound — MP 9 between Exits 10 and 9 - Food and Fuel
- Darien northbound — MP 12 between Exits 12 and 13 - Food and Fuel — Connecticut Welcome Center. The McDonald's restaurant at this service area claims to be the busiest in the country.
(note: as of March 28, 2012 Darien and Branford service areas have been entirely closed for renovation - the ramps have barriers -- there is no access or parking -- area will remain closed for approx. one year)
- Fairfield northbound and southbound — MP 25 between Exits 21 and 22 - Food and Fuel
- Milford northbound and southbound — MP 41 between Exits 40 and 41 - Food and Fuel
- Branford northbound and southbound — MP 52 between Exits 53 and 54 - Food and Fuel
- Madison northbound and southbound — MP 65 between Exits 61 and 62 - Food and Fuel
- Montville southbound only — MP 96 between Exits 79A and 79 - Fuel and Convenience Store
- Plainfield northbound and southbound — MP 123 between exits 89 and 90 - Fuel and Convenience Store
The former northbound Montville service area has been turned into a State Police barracks.
In addition to the Service Areas listed above, there is also a Rest Area, with restrooms, phone, picnic area, and seasonal tourist info located northbound at MP 74 between exits 65 and 66.
There are three State Police stations located on the turnpike: Troop F — Westbrook at MP 74 on southbound side of turnpike. Troop E — Montville at MP 96 on northbound side of turnpike (at former service plaza). Troop G — Bridgeport at MP 29 and the junction with Routes 8 and 25 (on surface road - exit 27, just below interchange).
There is one weigh station located northbound at MP 2 in Greenwich. Weigh stations on both sides of the Turnpike used to exist near Exit 18 in Westport; these were removed during the 1990s. The former southbound weigh station in Westport is now used by CONNDOT to store construction materials, while the northbound station was demolished; the grounds returned to their natural state.
The administration building for the former West Haven toll plaza can still be seen driving between Exits 42 and 43. Today, CONNDOT uses the old toll building as a maintenance facility.
Read more about this topic: Connecticut Turnpike
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—Edward Hoagland (b. 1932)