BOTETOURT COUNTY (WSLS) - The soon to be empty truck stop along Interstate 81 in Botetourt County at Exit 150 represents different things to different people.
It's a sad day for the truckers who use it regularly and some of the local business community.
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The truck stop will close for good Saturday, as VDOT takes over the land using eminent domain to make major repairs to the I-81 interchange intersecting with Route 11 and Route 220 Alternate.
J.D. Robinson is the Vice President of Human Resources at Lawrence Transportation, which owns a truck repair shop across the street from the truck stop.
"As a resident of Botetourt County, we kind of hate to see any kind of active and successful business close down and leave, no matter what the circumstances," he said.
But for the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors this is an opportunity.
VDOT's construction project will create a new road, Gateway Crossing, and open up 39 acres of land for development.
"Within five years you should see a lot of change with this interchange," said Botetourt County Supervisor Todd Dodson.
He said the board has commissioned a feasibility study on the land to determine what would fit best.
While there are plenty of options, Dodson believes this project opens up an array of new opportunities.
"It's going to be a catalyst to bring in new businesses and bring in different businesses,' he said. "(We can) see what else we can do with not only this part of the interchange but the other side of the interstate as well."
Causing some short term pain with the hope of creating long term growth.
WSLS 10 made phone calls to Travel Centers of America to find out if the truck stop will move to another location but got no response.
VDOT will begin construction on the interchange in the spring of 2015.