Two new fuel and convenience stores have opened along the Indiana Toll Road in Portage, replacing two 1950s food-and-fuel plazas demolished last year.
An APlus Convenience Store opened over the weekend on each side of the Toll Road. They're part of a $70 million project to replace a total of eight travel plazas along the 156 miles of the Indiana Toll Road.
APlus Convenience Stores are owned by Sunoco, which was chosen last year to operate the Toll Road's fuel and convenience stores.
“The last time the travel plazas were updated was in 1956 when they were originally constructed,” said Nicolas Barr, CEO of ITR Concession Co., the private operator of the Toll Road. “We now have the opportunity to supply two new modern facilities to our Toll Road users with the help of Sunoco.”
The APlus stores will offer made-to-order food as well as snacks and convenience items. Fuel service includes high-speed diesel pumps for interstate truckers and Sunoco fuels.
APlus owner Sunoco and the Indiana Toll Road Concession Co. will host an open house at the store on the eastbound side of the Toll Road from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 26, and various grand opening activities at both stores during the day.
The project also includes plazas in Howe, Rolling Prairie and Elkhart. Howe, which is scheduled for completion next, and Rolling Prairie will continue as "full-service" plazas with restaurant facilities.
The project is being performed in conjunction with ITRCC's $200 million 80/90 Push rehabilitation of the Toll Road. The project is in its second season, with significant work continuing in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties.
At Portage, the eastbound exit and westbound entry ramps were reopened early this week after rehabilitation work. The other two ramps are expected to reopen later this week, according to the Toll Road.
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