The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced plans to close two highway rest areas near Russell to reduce water consumption.

KDOT says it wants to hear from the public on the plan before it closes the eastbound and westbound rest areas east on Interstate 70 of Russell.

The preliminary decision to close the rest area comes after a suggestion by the city of Russell for all water users to cut water use by a fourth.

Joe Finley, KDOT district maintenance engineer, says water use at the two sites has increased from nearly 800,000 gallons in 2011 to an estimated 1.6 million gallons this year.

The cost of water has increased from more than $5,000 to more than $9,000 this year.
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Associated Press information from: The Hays Daily News