RUSSELL -- The east- and west-bound rest areas located at mile marker 187 on Interstate 70, approximately 2 miles east of the Russell U.S. Highway 281 interchange, will remain closed next week as crews work to repave the truck parking lanes at both locations.

The Kansas Department of Transportation Hays office made the closure last week with intentions to have re-opened the facilities by now. Rain coupled with a delay on the proper material significantly postponed the project's completion.

"We apologize that the closure is causing an inconvenience to the traveling public," said Kevin Zimmer, KDOT area three engineer. "We hope to have the rest areas re-opened to the public by the end of next week."

The temporary closure is posted on KDOT's 511 Web site. Log on to www.511.ksdot.org to view the closure, along with all other road construction related activities throughout the state.

For more information regarding the project, contact Zimmer at (785) 625-9718 or kzimmer@ksdot.org in Hays, or Kristen Brands, KDOT's northwest Kansas public affairs manager at (785) 877-3315 or kristenb@ksdot.org in Norton.