10:19 PM EDT on Tuesday, June 8, 2004

Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas' aging rest areas are getting a high-tech makeover. The Texas Department of Transportation is adding free wireless Internet access to rest stops.

TxDOT is accepting bids for installing Wi-Fi hotspots at the state's 84 rest areas and 12 travel information centers.

TxDOT began experimenting with a few hotspots last fall.

State officials believe Texas is the first state to provide such free access at rest areas.

Many of the state's rest stops haven't been updated in half a century.

-----

On the Net: www.dot.state.tx.us/