I was dismayed the other day to read the Portland Press Herald story about the temporary closure of the Gray-Cumberland rest areas on the Maine Turnpike (“Maine Turnpike Authority to close two service plazas for renovations,” March 14).
It’s not so much the disappearance of Starbucks coffee or the expansion of fast food that struck me – it’s the fact that you will be able to get your Whopper in a drive-thru lane. A rest stop ought to be just that – a time to get out of the car and stretch the legs. Burgers and french fries might eventually clog your coronary arteries, but sitting hours on end in a car can breed clots in your legs that will kill you sooner.
If only there were a 25-cent or even a 10-cent surcharge on drive-thru purchases, our national infrastructure and the populace would be in better shape.
Back to the Maine Turnpike Authority: Why don’t we see recycling bins at rest stops and tourist information areas? I was told that such features are up to the concessionaires. So much for authority.
Edward Walworth, M.D.
Lewiston
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