New Food, Retail Options Coming to I-95

Folks traveling on Interstate 95 between southeastern Connecticut and New York will soon have a more welcoming place to make a quick stop.

Travelers have already seen the demolition of two 1950's cinderblock flat-roof service plaza buildings in Milford, not far from I-95's interchange with I-91 in New Haven.

Two new white New England colonial style structures with cupulas and large windows have been constructed along with large Mobil gas stations and diesel services.

These are located on the northbound and southbound sides of the interstate.

Connecticut Post photos show the facilities have similar architectural elements as the Massachusetts Turnpike Service Plazas in Charlton.

Visitors can enjoy shopping alongside a food court with seating, wireless Internet, and restrooms.

Food vendors in both buildings will include a Subway, McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, and Sbarro.

Both facilities will offer retail shops including a Statement Shop with T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other apparel, along with a Fast Freddie's Convenience Store, according to Connecticut Department of Transportation Spokesman Kevin Nursick.

The northbound service plaza, scheduled to open in mid to late January, will additionally include a Robeks Fruit Smoothies and Good to Go Organics. The northbound plaza will have a total of six food and beverage outlets.

The larger southbound facility, slated to open in February, will also feature a Panda Express, Moe's Southwest Grill, Carvel, and Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese To Go. The southbound plaza will have eight food and beverage vendors.

These will be the first Connecticut I-95 Service Plazas to be extensively reconfigured to offer new food and retail choices.

Both facilities have been closed to motorists since December 2010.

These improvements are part of a $178 million infrastructure improvement project by Project Service LLC to upgrade the state's highway service areas on I-95, Route 15, and I-395, the later of which has facilities in Plainfield and Montville.

The Plainfield Service Plazas closed in October 2011 for renovations which are expected to be completed by June 2012.

After they reopen, the southbound Montville Service Plaza will close for renovations with a scheduled reopening in April 2013.

The three I-395 facilities will feature Subway, Dunkin' Donuts, Fast Freddie's Convenience Store, and Mobil gasoline. They will resemble the recently renovated service plazas in North Haven on Route 15.