BELMONT — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine spent Tuesday morning at the new westbound rest stop on Interstate 70 in Belmont.

Although both the eastbound and westbound rest stops have been open to travelers since March, Tuesday marked their official grand opening following two years of planning and construction.

DeWine said that opening the new rest stops was a priority for him personally, because he and his wife Fran have traveled the country several times and believe that rest stops are the perfect place to display brochures and pictures informing travelers what the community has to offer.

“Rest areas are very important, particularly the ones that are right as you come into the state, because it sets a tone and it sets an image,” DeWine said. “It tells you what some of the sites are coming up ahead. We want people when they come into Ohio, whether they’re an Ohio resident coming home or they’re just coming to Ohio for the first time, we want them to feel good about Ohio.”

He added that another crucial part of the project is ensuring that the rest stop is clean and safe for travelers.

“We wanted a place that was safe and a place that kind of lifted your spirits a little bit,” he said.

During DeWine’s tenure, 22 rest stops have been opened, and he said that he believes they are the perfect way to showcase all the state has to offer.

“We’re very proud of Ohio. We’re proud of our history, but we’re also proud of what’s going on now. And when people come here, they can sense that pride that we have in our state,” DeWine said.

In addition to the regular amenities, the rest stop has a Storybook Trail that was inspired by Fran DeWine’s collaboration with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books to children from birth until age 5. The book featured at the new rest stop is “Red House, Tree House, Little Bitty Brown Mouse,” written by Jane Godwin.

DeWine said the inclusion of the Storybook Trail provides families a chance to stretch their legs while taking a break from traveling.

“What we want is alert drivers, and one of the things that we encourage drivers to do is to stop and get a pop or something, maybe a little caffeine in them, whatever they want. But also for the families that are driving, it’s good for the kids. Our experience with the kids is that it’s good to get out and run or walk around, look around, and get rid of some of that energy,” DeWine said.

Another unique addition to the new facility is an inclusive changing area for people with disabilities of all ages. DeWine said that is a necessary addition that people who don’t have a family member with disabilities may not think about.

“If they’re going to travel, they have to have a place that they can go and change that individual, that brother, sister, mom or child. You need a changing station that’s not just a small one. You need a full-sized one for an adult, which is something that if you don’t have a member of your family in this situation, you never think about,” he said.

He added that members of the disabled community reached out to him asking for the inclusion of the changing area, and he believes it will allow residents with disabilities the ability to travel more easily.

Ohio Department of Transportation Assistant Director for Field Operations Mitch Blackford then spoke. He said that rest stops are very important to ODOT as a way to welcome residents into Ohio.

“This is kind of where the interstate system came from — the east to the west. So, we want to make this a very inviting place for travelers,” Blackford said.