Closed Calif. Rest Areas in Limbo With Budget Impasse

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and the state’s legislature have reached tentative agreement on a budget that could lead to the reopening of seven highway rest areas on Interstates 10, 15 and 40.

The state late last month closed the rest stops —  located in remote, high and low desert regions — because the budget crisis made it impossible to pay the contractor who tests well water each week at each location.

This year’s budget impasse lasted more than 90 days.

“As soon as there’s an active budget and we’re able to make a payment to the vendor we’re going to get them reopened,” said Jason Goldman, a spokesman for Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation.