WEST GARDINER -- The need for a few essential items -- the partitions for the rest rooms -- is preventing the early opening of the new West Gardiner service plaza.

But even without the dividers, a ceremonial opening ceremony is set for Thursday, at the plaza.

"This is basically a rest area, and you need to have the bathrooms open," said Conrad Welzel, Maine Turnpike Authority government relations manager.

Gov. John Baldacci is scheduled to cut the ribbon at the new $13 million facility on Route 126 at 4 p.m.

The plaza is slated to open before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Local officials -- including West Gardiner selectmen, Gardiner city councilors and local legislators -- as well as contractors and state officials, are invited to the public ceremony, and many will remain for an invitation-only dinner.

Later, the Maine Turnpike Authority is scheduled to hold a 6 p.m. public board meeting under the rotunda.

Shops and restaurants -- Center for Maine Craft, Starbucks, Quiznos, Burger King, Hershey's Ice Cream, Z-Market convenience store and the CN Brown fuel service -- will not be open until the plaza is ready for travelers to use.

Maine Turnpike Authority spokesman Dan Paradee said 75 people -- 40 of those full time -- will work in the main plaza building and 15 others will be employed by CN Brown at the fuel area.

The opening date by contract is Nov. 17.

"There's still hope we can be open then," Paradee said.

He said the arrival of the restroom partitions -- originally set for Nov. 6 -- is anticipated shortly, but they will require installation time. The building is designed to have 19 stalls in the women's restroom and eight stalls and 18 urinals in the men's restroom.

Paradee said a truck fire in New Mexico last week delayed the arrival of two kiosks designed to help speed travelers along their way without forcing them to pay twice for stopping at the plaza.

This service plaza, unlike others in Maine, requires motorists to reach it by exiting the toll road.

Those who pay the toll in cash before exiting the turnpike can get a voucher from a kiosk and turn it in at the next toll stop. E-Z Pass holders will automatically be credited, Paradee said.

But Paradee said turnpike authority can arrange to have people hand out the vouchers until the automated kiosks arrive.

"There's no simple process here, but it's as simple as you can make it," Paradee said. "We're trying to make sure people don't get negatively impacted for going there. No one will pay an extra fee to get off and back on."

He said the plaza's cost and impact on wetlands would both have increased significantly -- the cost by about $2 million -- if ramps had to be constructed.

The plaza was built on the site of a former truck stop on Route 126 between the Maine Turnpike and Interstate 295.

Construction of the plaza and its utilities was a cooperative effort among the Maine Turnpike Authority, the Maine Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Betty Adams -- 621-5631

badams@centralmaine.com