Press Release  Massachusetts Department of Transportation and Applegreen Announce Next Steps in $750 Million Overhaul of 18 Highway Service Plazas

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) today announced key updates for the state’s $750 million plan to modernize and maintain 18 highway service plazas across the state. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with the full construction schedule expected to be shared later this fall. This project is expected to support 750 new jobs.  

“Massachusetts’ highway service plazas are long overdue for a complete reset,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “This investment will deliver the kind of infrastructure travelers expect in a world-class state—and do so in a way that supports local workers and businesses.” 

Led by national service plaza operator Applegreen, this transformative effort will rebuild or renovate all 18 plazas—delivering critical upgrades to facilities, amenities, and sustainability infrastructure. Suffolk Construction, a Massachusetts-based firm with a long track record in complex public works, will lead construction and help deliver more than 750 local union construction jobs as part of the three-year build-out. 

“This is a transformative initiative that will have a lasting impact on communities and workers throughout Massachusetts,” said John Fish, Chairman and CEO of Suffolk. “We are proud to help make the vision for this project a reality, while creating high-quality union construction jobs that will benefit workers and their families throughout the Commonwealth.”

“This project will create hundreds of good jobs paying union wages and benefits under the terms of a Project Labor Agreement guaranteeing it will be built by highly skilled, local trades men and women trained in union apprenticeship programs.  It also opens up great career opportunities for young apprentices entering the industry.” said Frank Callahan, President of Massachusetts’ Building Trades Unions.

Applegreen also shared its initial hiring plan for plaza operations. All current employees working in the service plazas—regardless of their current subvendor—will be offered employment opportunities with Applegreen. With expanded services, food and beverage options, and additional support for facility maintenance, the plazas are ultimately expected to create 1,500 operational jobs. 

Importantly, all roles—across convenience retail, food and beverage, EV charging, or fuel services—will be directly employed by Applegreen, creating a consistent customer experience, simplified operations, and a single standard of service across all locations. Applegreen expects to launch its hiring process in early fall, including job fairs for new employees and information sessions for current staff. 

“We are excited to bring our global experience and local commitment to Massachusetts,” said Bob Etchingham, Chairman of Applegreen. “This project allows us to build lasting relationships, invest in a talented workforce, and deliver a high-performing roadside infrastructure that meets the needs of today’s travelers—and tomorrow’s.” 

Applegreen also announced a new partnership with National Convenience Distributors (NCD), a major regional supplier. As a result of the new partnership, Chicopee, MA-based Rachael’s will be the leading provider of sandwiches to all Applegreen Massachusetts service plaza locations, as well as its entire US travel plaza business. Rachael’s was established in 2008 with a workforce of over 100 employees and prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients. This collaboration reflects Applegreen’s ongoing commitment to support local suppliers and strengthen community connections.

In addition to construction and employment milestones, Applegreen and MassDOT announced plans to launch a community engagement process in Fall 2025. The Consensus Building Institute (CBI), a locally based facilitation organization, will lead the effort to gather input from community members on plaza programming, vendor mix and regional needs.  

While key aspects of plaza design and function are governed under MassDOT’s contract with Applegreen, the engagement process is designed to ensure that site-specific experiences reflect the character and priorities of the communities they serve. 

“This is a long-overdue modernization of vital economic infrastructure,” said James E. Rooney, President and CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. “Modern rest stops support regional mobility, quality of life, and competitiveness—and they should reflect the best of what Massachusetts has to offer.” 
 

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