It’s time to
clear up the
confusion
Maine
Interstate
Redesignation
2004
M
ost Mainers know how to get
where they’re going on our interstate
highway system. But it hasn't been
so easy for the more than 50 million
people who visit Maine each year
and who are confused by duplicate
exit numbers and inconsistent
interstate route designations. The
Maine Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike
Authority are working together to
make changes that will clear up the
confusion once and for all in 2004.
From exit numbers
to mile markers
The old way of numbering exits on
Maine’s highways has resulted in
confusion. For example, on I-95
there are two Exit 2s (one in Kittery
and one in Wells). Exits 3 and 4 are
duplicated on I-95, as well.
This duplication will be a
thing of the past when in mid-2004
we introduce a new exit numbering
system based on mileage. The new
mileage-based system will not only
eliminate duplication, it also will
give travelers a better sense of where
they are and how far they need to
travel to reach their destination.
Today, 37 states use a mileage-based
system.
Getting to the ‘route’ of
the problem
Maine will also re-introduce consistency and common sense to our
interstate route designations. Today,
travelers heading north on the
Maine Turnpike are baffled by the
way the toll road suddenly changes
from I-95 to I-495 just north of
Portland. Similarly, northbound
travelers on I-295 are at a loss to
explain why the highway switches to
I-95 in Falmouth.
It’s time to clear up the confusion. Beginning in 2004, the
entire Maine Turnpike from Kittery
to Augusta will become I-95 – plain
and simple. Where the Maine
Turnpike ends in Augusta, I-95 will
continue all the way from Augusta to
Houlton. Likewise, I-295 will begin,
as it does today, in Scarborough and
will extend through Portland, Brunswick and all the way to Gardiner –
no more sudden route changes.
Getting the word out.
We want to give Maine residents and
businesses plenty of time and all the
information they need to prepare for
the changes. For more information,
please contact the Maine Department of Transportation (1-800-8779171 or www.state.me.us/mdot) or
the Maine Turnpike (1-877-6829433 or www.maineturnpike.com).
Houlton
Maine Interstate
Redesignation
Smyrna
61 (291)
Oakfield
(Changes to occur
mid-2004)
60 (286)
59 (276)
Island Falls
Sherman
58 (264)
Benedicta
Houlton
62
(302)
57 (259)
95
95
Medway
56 (244)
Bangor
Augusta
95
Lincoln
295
55 (227)
Portland
Howland
54 (217)
Old Town
52 (197)
95
53 (199)
Interstate Route
& Exit Numbers
51 (193)
Orono
50 (191)
49 (187)
Existing Exit Numbers
Future Mileage Numbers
48 (185)
48a (186)
Bangor
Future I-95
Future I-295
Palmyra/Newport
39 (157)
Pittsfield
Clinton
37 (138)
35 (132)
Waterville
Oakland
Sidney
31 a&b (112 a&b N.B
112 S.B.)
West Gardiner
14b (103)
40
(159)
Etna
42
(167)
47 (184)
46 (183)
Hampden
45 a&b (182 a&b)
44 (180)
43 (174)
41
Carmel
(161)
Plymouth
38
(150)
Fairfield
95
36 (133)
34 (130)
33 (127)
32 (120)
Augusta
30 a&b
(109 N.B - 109 a&b S.B.)
28 (51) Gardiner
14a (102)
27 (49)
Sabattus
26 (43) Richmond
(86)
Lewiston
25 (37)
13 (80)
Bowdoinham
Topsham
Auburn
24 a&b (31 N.B
12 (75)
31 a&b S.B.)
Existing I-95
22
(28) Brunswick
Existing I-495
Becomes I-295
Becomes I-95
21 (24)
Gray
20 (22) Freeport
295
11 (63)
19 (20)
17 (17)
Yarmouth
16 (15)
95
95
Scarborough
Saco
6 (42)
5 (36)
Biddeford
4 (32)
Kennebunk
3 (25)
95
2 (19)
15 (11)
10 (53)
Inset
10 (10)
9 (52)
Falmouth
8 (48)
Existing I-295
Stays I-295
Westbrook
7b (47)
Wells
295
Falmouth Spur
7 (7)
6 a&b (6 a&b)
5 a&b (5 a&b)
4 (4) S. Portland
Portland
7a (46)
7 (45)
York
2 (2)
1(1)
4 (7)
3 (3)
Kittery
6a (44)
1 (1)
9 (9)
8 (8)
3 (3)
2 (2)
Scarborough
Cape Elizabeth
63
(305)
1-800-877-9171 • www.state.me.us/mdot
1-877-682-9433 • www.maineturnpike.com