The westbound truck parking facility at Mineola, Mo., located at mile marker 170 on Interstate 70, opened this week for commercial vehicles with an additional 40 spaces bringing the total number of parking spots to 64.

“Funding for the expansion was possible mainly from a $1 million federal grant to build additional truck parking on I-70,” said the Missouri Transportation Department. “The additional parking is expected to help prevent crashes due to driver fatigue by making it easier for professional drivers to find a safe, quiet place to rest.”

Missouri has more than doubled the number of truck parking spaces along its interstates in the past several years by converting shuttered weigh stations and rest areas, according to the department. During the same time, the number of hours a commercial driver is legally allowed to operate fell, resulting in increased need for convenient truck parking.