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[Interstate 69 Fan]

https://www.google.com/maps/place/I-10,+Brookshire,+TX+77423/@29.7804812,-95.9817231,16z/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x86413bd83abf3411:0x105dfb5fcbc306e2

Anyone know what these were to be used for?

[HazMatt]

https://www.google.com/maps/@29.7804987,-95.9796025,3a,75y,330.57h,60.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbivh1AZD2Y_jN-kTfuVwIA!2e0!5s20080201T000000!7i3328!8i1664

Old streetview shows a truck stop or something.

[ski-man]

It used to be a rest area/parking area.

[Chris]

Google Earth historical imagery reveals it used to be a rest area indeed:

[FreewayDan]

Google Earth historical imagery reveals it used to be a rest area indeed:

Actually, both locations were each signed as a Picnic Area.
100B9471 by Daniel, on Flickr
100B1802 by Daniel, on Flickr

[DJStephens]

Pulling into the high speed lane, at the last minute, to exit, to take a leak.   Maybe it worked in an earlier time, when drivers were more courteous, and attentive.   

[In_Correct]

Those are not unlike the Oklahoma Toll Roads, except there are no gas stations. I do not like exiting nor entering in the fast lane. It seems like those rest areas lasted 40 years before being eliminated. They were not replaced probably be cause it is not far from Houston.

[djlynch]

Actually, both locations were each signed as a Picnic Area.

I'm pretty sure there were bathrooms there back in the '90s, but they got taken out in the early '00s when TxDOT started either rebuilding or closing all the rest areas that dated back to the original interstate system construction.

[Beltway]

I'm pretty sure there were bathrooms there back in the '90s, but they got taken out in the early '00s when TxDOT started either rebuilding or closing all the rest areas that dated back to the original interstate system construction.

Was there a new rest area built within 50 miles that replaced the function of the one that was closed?

[US 81]

it was a "brilliant" (!) idea to save money by being able to build one set of facilities in the center instead of two on either side. I remember they were not uncommon in the 1970's.

[In_Correct]

I'm pretty sure there were bathrooms there back in the '90s, but they got taken out in the early '00s when TxDOT started either rebuilding or closing all the rest areas that dated back to the original interstate system construction.

Was there a new rest area built within 50 miles that replaced the function of the one that was closed?

Yes.

[Beltway]

Was there a new rest area built within 50 miles that replaced the function of the one that was closed?

Yes.

Then it makes sense to close the one in the median.  Left hand exits and entrances were acceptable highway engineering up to the 1970s, but have fallen out of favor for safety reasons and are removed whenever possible.

[NE2]

it was a "brilliant" (!) idea to save money by being able to build one set of facilities in the center instead of two on either side. I remember they were not uncommon in the 1970's.

Not the case here; note the creek separating the two.

[jlwm]

I'm pretty sure there were bathrooms there back in the '90s, but they got taken out in the early '00s when TxDOT started either rebuilding or closing all the rest areas that dated back to the original interstate system construction.

Was there a new rest area built within 50 miles that replaced the function of the one that was closed?

The rest area in Colorado County was completely rebuilt a few years before the picnic area in Waller County closed. They're about 40 miles away from each other.

[txstateends]

Was there a new rest area built within 50 miles that replaced the function of the one that was closed?

Yes.

Then it makes sense to close the one in the median.  Left hand exits and entrances were acceptable highway engineering up to the 1970s, but have fallen out of favor for safety reasons and are removed whenever possible.

Too bad they didn't get rid of the 2 left-hand exits at I-35E/I-635 when they redid I-635 in Dallas in the last few years.  Oh well.

[Beltway]

Then it makes sense to close the one in the median.  Left hand exits and entrances were acceptable highway engineering up to the 1970s, but have fallen out of favor for safety reasons and are removed whenever possible.

Too bad they didn't get rid of the 2 left-hand exits at I-35E/I-635 when they redid I-635 in Dallas in the last few years.  Oh well.

Given all the flyover bridges built and interrelationship with the toll express roadways on both highways, that looks like it would have been difficult as well as expensive.  Not saying that it shouldn't have been done, but someone made a judgment call there.
https://tinyurl.com/yd8sylzz