Virginia will keep its interstate highway rest areas open through the Fourth of July holiday weekend, even though money to operate them has run out.

Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Britt Drewes said Thursday that the 19 rest areas scheduled to be closed will be open until later in July.

The decision to close the rest areas came as the Commonwealth Transportation Board earlier this month pared $538 million from the state highway system's six-year spending plan.

Drewes says before the rest stops are barricaded, highway officials will post signs at all of the state's interstate welcome centers.

She says signs along the highways giving the distance to the next rest area will be changed.