Project Service LLC, which owns 23 service plazas in Connecticut, had its Director of Operations Mike Modine on hand Friday to assure the opening went smoothly.
“It’s been amazing,” Modine said. “Some people don’t even miss a beat.”
Service at the rest area, which houses McDonald’s, Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts, Alltown convenience store and a 16-nozzle Mobil gas station, was going so well that Modine said he sent his contractors home in the face of Murphy’s Law.
“I usually keep a plumber and electrician on hand,” Modine said how he was prepared just in case of problems at the grand reopening.
Project Service, a company that develops new Subway restaurants, was awarded the contract for the Connecticut highway service stations in 2009 when it signed a 35-year contract to own, refurbish and operate the pit stops across the state.
According to Modine, the company owns 10 service stations on I-95, 10 on the Merritt Parkway and three on I-395.
“We never skip a beat,” he said of the facilities that are open 24/7 for 365 days of the year. As of midday Friday, operations had “been steady” even as Modine’s team was prepared for the worst. He said the service station has a backup generator just in case Fairfield loses power.
One new aspect to the rest area is a free substation reserved for State Police, which Modine said adds an extra level of security for customers.
“We also have security cameras all around this place, and license plate recognition,” in case of a parking lot hit and run, Modine added.
The next rebuilt rest area to open will be in Fairfield as well, across the highway on the I-95 southbound side. According to Modine, that service station is scheduled to reopen at the end of January.
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