The blend of new and old at the Interstate 44 Welcome Center near Conway -- modern restrooms and other amenities and an historic U.S. Route 66 atmosphere -- drew rave reviews from folks who streamed in after the ramps were opened to traffic Monday, May 4.

The transformation to a welcome center cost $10.8 million in federal enhancement funds. The project involved razing the rest area buildings and putting up new, larger buildings with more restroom facilities and a tourist information center. The facility also has triple the truck parking, better lighting, pet walk areas with waste disposal containers, Route 66 history display boards with photographs, the old highway's route across eight states traced on a terrazzo floor, "Burma Shave" safe-driving signs and 1950s-era neon signs out front.

The welcome center features considerable green technology -- automatic sinks and toilets in the restrooms to conserve water, small wind turbines to power lights over the information counters, a ground source heat pump system for heating and air conditioning and a modern wastewater treatment plant.

"Everything we've heard so far is positive," said Roadside Management Specialist Rand Swanigan from the MoDOT Central Office. He helped develop the Route 66 theme, providing a regional connection to encourage travelers to visit nearby communities. Sections of old Route 66 that parallel I-44 are designated as Laclede and Webster County Route CC and Laclede County Route W. Auto and history buffs come from all over the world to drive the old highway between Chicago, Ill., and Santa Monica, Calif.

A dedication ceremony opening day featured classic cars provided by area auto clubs and individuals, performances by the Conway High School band and choir, reminiscences by a Missouri Route 66 Association officer and words of thanks from Conway Mayor Larry Cunningham. Visitors included two MoDOT retirees in the Conway area, Lloyd Hendrix and Jim Hendrix, who helped build the original rest area which opened in 1972.

MoDOT Chief Engineer Kevin Keith said the new Conway welcome center is a showpiece for the state. "I couldn't be more proud of all the folks who worked on it," he said.

Key planners included District 8 Project Manager Chad Zickefoose and Area Engineer Jim Blackburn. District 9 senior construction inspectors David Prock and Darin Pryor inspected the work, with oversight by Rolla Resident Engineer Vickie Woods.

Superintendent Hal Brenton of Emery Sapp and Sons of Columbia, the prime construction contractor, said the welcome center was a good project to have. "And I loved being out of traffic!"

The Conway Welcome Center, one of the busiest rest areas in the state, is the third to be transformed into a welcome center. The center on I-44 at Joplin opened in November 2007 and the facility on I-35 near Eagleville opened in February 2008.