Security upgrade planned for rest stops

Illinois Department of Transportation officials say the state will spent $1.2 million to update and repair security systems at interstate rest stops.

The systems have not had maintenance funding since mid-2005.

The bid for the work has gone to D.M. Mattson of McLean. Company officials say they will fix minor problems, report major problems and add new cameras.

The improvements come after 26-year-old Yorkville flight attendant Heather Tomich was beaten to death at the Limestone Rest Area along southbound Interstate 55 in 2001.

There were 371 cameras and 159 call boxes installed at Illinois rest stops between 2002 and 2004.