For many of us, rest stops make traveling a little bit easier, but now the Virginia Department of Transportation is looking to reduce the effects its feeling of the struggling economy.

Interstate 81 traveler Tim Hayden says, "We rely on them quite a bit. We have a son that goes to Virginia Tech and my other might go to Roanoke, so we go up and down the highway quite a bit and we often time stop when we are going to hit a rest area."

With all the driving Tim and his son Mike have got planned, they're using rest stops to their advantage. Unfortunately, because of tough economic times, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced this week it is shutting down 16 rest stops and visiting centers across the state.

Rest stop worker Johnny Weese says, "I don't know what's going to happen. Whether they're going to shut us down or what. You hear so many tales about what's going on, I just go with the flow."

Weese says he worries about some of his fellow employees.

He adds, "It'll hurt me some but it's going to hurt a lot more people than it's going to hurt me, one's that have kids and stuff, that's what I say."

Tim thinks VDOT should be looking elsewhere to save money.

He says, "That's a problem. The alternative is getting off an exit and not knowing where you're going to go and how far the gas station is off the exit. So having a rest area right there, it's a quick on and off and that's valuable to us."

He says people rely on them for more than just resting.

Tim says, "They use them not only for a rest area, but they use them for the maps and information as well."

Mike has his own thoughts on what VDOT should do.

He says, "I think we should keep them how they are, iIf not add more."

Part of VDOT's plan also includes reducing ferry services, safety patrol services, and interstate maintenance services.