As scheduled, most of the 18 rest areas slated for closure by the state shut down overnight, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation said this morning.

Virginia officials are seeking a change in federal law that would allow the private sector to run the state’s interstate rest areas.

Drivers will need to make room for a wide load on Virginia roads today through Thursday.

The state is going to mothball until at least 2011 the 18 rest areas and one welcome center slated for closure and eventual demolition because of budget cutbacks.

VDOT decided to keep some interstate public stops open past the start of the state’s fiscal year on July 1 to avoid some adverse impacts on summer tourism.

Around-the-clock James River ferry service and six interstate highway rest stops that were among 25 targeted for closure should be saved, state transportation officials said Wednesday.

Roadside grass will grow higher, 19 Interstate highway rest stops will close and highway workers will lose jobs as Virginia’s road money dries up.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will advertise about $176 million in paving and bridge projects for construction bids today, the first of the federal highway stimulus work to hit the street in Virginia.

The Virginia Department of Transportation last year paid more than $200,000 in one-time bonuses and more than $300,000 in salary increases to retain some of its top employees.

BEDFORD — A regional transportation study is under way to determine current and future transportation needs for many of Central Virginia’s rural areas.

Virginia’s highway funding crunch is on display in a list of nine Lynchburg-area projects that have been delayed or cut from the 2008 version of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s six-year plan for roads.

Looming state-mandated changes to Virginia Department of Transportation regulations could have major impacts on development as well as county planning offices.