Interstate 95 & Maine Turnpike shield assembly posted after the Exit 109 trumpet interchange with U.S. 202 & Maine 11-17-100 (Western Avenue) at Augusta. Although this was the first assembly including the Maine Turnpike, 2004 Legislation extends the turnpike designation northward to Exit 113 and the Maine 3 expressway, allowing heavy trucks to use the freeway in conjunction with Maine 3 as a bypass for downtown Augusta.1 Photo taken 06/28/05.
EZ Pass and the Maine Turnpike welcome Interstate 95 drivers to the toll road in Augusta. Photo taken 06/28/05.
A second shield assembly lies at the Winthrop Road overpass on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) southbound. Variable speed limits apply to the initial stretch of turnpike. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Maine Turnpike sign proclaiming the toll road as the Gold Star Memorial Highway, dedicated in 1965, posted near the southbound beginning. Similar signs are posted along Interstate 95 northbound. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Approaching the split with Interstate 295 at Exit 103 near Gardiner. Interstate 295 travels the free route to Brunswick, Freeport, Yarmouth, and Portland while Interstate 95 remains on the full length of the toll road. This switch was made in 2004 for continuity purposes along the Maine Turnpike with regards to Interstate 95. Originally Interstate 95 followed the free route between Gardiner and Falmouth while Interstate 495 followed the Maine Turnpike main line between Gardiner and West Falmouth. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Turnpike travelers will not see the next exit for 18 miles beyond the split with Interstate 95. Interstate 295 meanwhile interchanges with Maine 9 & 126 (Lewiston Road) nearby. Both Interstates are tolled beyond their split. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Auxiliary guide sign touting the Interstate 295 southbound destination of Freeport. Freeport lies along U.S. 1 adjacent to Interstate 295 Exit 22. Interstate 295 provides a shorter and more direct route to Portland, but guide signs indicate the Maine Turnpike as the primary route to Maine's largest city. Photo taken 06/28/05.
High Street, west of Gardiner, passes over Interstate 95 at the 0.50-mile diagrammatical overhead for Exit 103 (Interstate 295 south). Interstate 295 meets Maine 9 & 126 (Exit 51) just south of the split. Maine 9 & 126 (Lewiston Road) travel east toward Central Street in nearby Gardiner and west parallel to Interstate 95 toward Litchfield and Sabattus. Photo taken 06/28/05.
Exit 103 consists of a partial "Y" interchange between Interstates 95 and 295 south. A two-lane off-ramp carries drivers onto Interstate 295 south ahead of the toll plaza and Exit 51 diamond interchange with Maine 9 & 126 (Lewiston Road). The freeway continues south 22 miles to the Topsham and Brunswick vicinity, 30 miles to Freeport, and 41 miles to the Falmouth Spur of the Maine Turnpike (unsigned Interstate 495). Photo taken 06/28/05.
Sources:
"Heavy trucks to bypass capital." Bangor Daily News, April 6, 2004.
