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Maine

Started by mightyace, March 04, 2009, 12:40:49 PM

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Dougtone

Thanks to some good old ingenuity, the Bailey Island Bridge connecting Bailey Island with Orr's Island along ME 24 in Harpswell, Maine is one of a kind. It is said to be the only bridge in the world built using granite slabs and constructed in a cribstone pattern, allowing for the free movement of tides.

https://www.gribblenation.org/2023/10/bailey-island-bridge-cribstone-bridge.html


yakra

I-395 / Future ME9 connector

News ahticle bub:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhzHF_dLTaQ

Friggin' drone footage, guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5LdLoyuXOk
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

yakra

"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

vdeane

Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

froggie


pderocco

Maybe a good spot for a diverging diamond.

The Ghostbuster

Will this connector be an extension of ME 112 or an extension of ME 703? If it is the former, maybe 703 could be renumbered as a further extension of ME 112.

vdeane

From the I-11 thread:
Quote from: pderocco on February 07, 2024, 10:57:59 PM
I those days, when you didn't need a passport, I suppose there was little need for I-95 to go from Houlton to Fort Kent, since you could always take route 2 in Canada.
Given how sparse it is, is there really a need for it to go there anyway?  I could see maybe Van Buren if you want to serve Presque Isle and Caribou, given that Van Buren is where US 1 turns off itself (the road goes straight into Canada and turns into NB 17).  I'm not really sure why US 1 went to Fort Kent to begin with, unless someone said "I want it to go to the top of Maine", realized that most of the roadway between Fort Kent and Estcourt is private logging roads, and then ended it at the bridge to the connecting roads to Estcourt through New Brunswick and Québec.

From this thread:
Quote from: froggie on February 07, 2024, 09:42:29 PM
Quote from: vdeane on February 07, 2024, 08:39:26 PM
Quote from: yakra on February 07, 2024, 07:39:28 PM
https://wgme.com/news/local/i-95-connector-from-south-portland-to-gorham-taking-the-next-step
West of the Turnpike: freetollway

FTFY.  And given the expected traffic volumes, I don't really see a diamond at 95 being a major issue.
"Freeway" as in the term for limited access highways where access is provided at interchanges instead of at-grades (the FHWA version of the term).  Not "free" as in "free beer".
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

SectorZ

Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 08, 2024, 11:06:34 AM
Will this connector be an extension of ME 112 or an extension of ME 703? If it is the former, maybe 703 could be renumbered as a further extension of ME 112.

I hope it's not a 112 extension because the directionality is already wrecked. You'd be going "south" on 112 from I-95 while going northwest to Gorham. Maybe they can give the new road a new number, re-number the Gorham bypass part of 112 with that number and end ME 112 at ME 25. Maybe call it 114 and give renumber the existing parallel 114 stretch to 114A, but then you would need a small non-freeway/expressway stretch of 114 to go back to Gorham center, so perhaps a unique and new number would be best.

froggie

Quote from: vdeane on February 08, 2024, 12:47:45 PM
Quote from: froggie on February 07, 2024, 09:42:29 PM
Quote from: vdeane on February 07, 2024, 08:39:26 PM
Quote from: yakra on February 07, 2024, 07:39:28 PM
https://wgme.com/news/local/i-95-connector-from-south-portland-to-gorham-taking-the-next-step
West of the Turnpike: freetollway

FTFY.  And given the expected traffic volumes, I don't really see a diamond at 95 being a major issue.
"Freeway" as in the term for limited access highways where access is provided at interchanges instead of at-grades (the FHWA version of the term).  Not "free" as in "free beer".

You missed the point.

Quote from: SectorZ on February 08, 2024, 01:02:49 PM
Quote from: The Ghostbuster on February 08, 2024, 11:06:34 AM
Will this connector be an extension of ME 112 or an extension of ME 703? If it is the former, maybe 703 could be renumbered as a further extension of ME 112.

I hope it's not a 112 extension because the directionality is already wrecked. You'd be going "south" on 112 from I-95 while going northwest to Gorham. Maybe they can give the new road a new number, re-number the Gorham bypass part of 112 with that number and end ME 112 at ME 25. Maybe call it 114 and give renumber the existing parallel 114 stretch to 114A, but then you would need a small non-freeway/expressway stretch of 114 to go back to Gorham center, so perhaps a unique and new number would be best.

Or, alternatively, give it its own route number...there are numerous ones to choose from.  When I conceptualized the connector a decade ago (based on proposals/ studies at the time), I borrowed from yakra and gave the whole corridor (Gorham Bypass-connector-Scarborough) the ME 20 moniker.

kramie13

Today I learned that there is a hotel in Saco called the "Exit 5 Motel & Cottages".  But to get there, you are taking Exit 2A off of I-195.

I do remember the first time I visited Maine, back in 1995, the exit for I-195 from I-95 was Exit 5.  Is the hotel's name a remnant of sequential exit numbering in Maine?  I'm surprised they haven't renamed themselves since the mileage-based renumbering occurred twenty years ago!

shadyjay

Quote from: SectorZ on February 08, 2024, 01:02:49 PM
I hope it's not a 112 extension because the directionality is already wrecked. You'd be going "south" on 112 from I-95 while going northwest to Gorham.

There are A LOT of places in Maine where the directionality is whacked.  I can't tell you how many roads I've been on in southern Maine where I'm going NORTH and SOUTH at the same time!  I've been turned-around more times in Maine than any other state.  And sometimes, you get turned around so much, you don't have any directionality whatsover... just a ROUTE.
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3633594,-68.3070925,3a,15y,172.72h,89.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJNYo_ValHRUWL4QOmdjQeg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

Rothman

Quote from: shadyjay on February 26, 2024, 08:19:47 PM
Quote from: SectorZ on February 08, 2024, 01:02:49 PM
I hope it's not a 112 extension because the directionality is already wrecked. You'd be going "south" on 112 from I-95 while going northwest to Gorham.

There are A LOT of places in Maine where the directionality is whacked.  I can't tell you how many roads I've been on in southern Maine where I'm going NORTH and SOUTH at the same time!  I've been turned-around more times in Maine than any other state.  And sometimes, you get turned around so much, you don't have any directionality whatsover... just a ROUTE.
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3633594,-68.3070925,3a,15y,172.72h,89.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJNYo_ValHRUWL4QOmdjQeg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu
When you're on an island and there's only one way off, directions become simpler.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

bmitchelf

Quote from: kramie13 on February 26, 2024, 03:29:32 PM
Today I learned that there is a hotel in Saco called the "Exit 5 Motel & Cottages".  But to get there, you are taking Exit 2A off of I-195.

I do remember the first time I visited Maine, back in 1995, the exit for I-195 from I-95 was Exit 5.  Is the hotel's name a remnant of sequential exit numbering in Maine?  I'm surprised they haven't renamed themselves since the mileage-based renumbering occurred twenty years ago!

Looks like they've only been in business for 20 years. I think it's just that they're located on route 5 just off the exit, even though the signs on the highway going east say go straight for route 5.

Ted$8roadFan

With the eclipse coming Monday, how many will be traveling to Maine (esp. northern Maine) to witness it? Hopefully, the roads will be able to handle the crowds, whatever they may be.

sturmde

Eclipse traffic on Maine's I-95 and I-295 performed admirably.
.
Contrast with the hell that New Hampshire and Vermont had.
.
Of course, long range forecasts predicted cloudy skies in Maine, and that's the normal climate.  So everyone who planned ahead, planned Mexico, Texas, anywhere but here in Maine.... Those of us left behind benefitted!  Took me only an hour to drive north from Bangor at 1 p.m.  80 mph except at the Millinocket exit.  Got to Benedicta and St. Benedict Catholic Church at 2:10 pm, set up camera and exhibits... and we had great fun the next two hours.  Left with 30 minutes of partial left... and traffic was maintaining about 70 mph, again except at each exit merge, but 95 was all green or yellow the rest of the day.  The new ORT tollbooth at Mile 8 in York, what was always the big backup... had no backups at all, except for those who don't have EZPass and had to pay the tolls.  We don't do License Plate Bingo in Maine.  If you get camera'd skipping a toll, you pay a fine, not just the toll...

yakra

Exit 5 Motel & Cottages was surely named after the old exit number, not the route.
Yankees give directions by where stuff used to be 20 years ago. Including the exit numbers, which are burned into old-timah's brains, resistant to change.

The legendary Exit 8 isn't just a highway interchange, but an entire neighborhood at the Portland/Westbrook line. Google "Exit 8" Westbrook and after sifting few a few "Exit 48 (formerly Exit 8)" references (notable that some folks still find that necessary after 20 years) you can find some stuff still referring to it as if it's the current number. E.G., lots of hotel listings, for some reason. User-generated content, maybe?

WESTBROOK, ME - DECEMBER 3: Vehicles pass thorugh the tollbooth at Exit 8 in Westbrook before traveling on I-95 on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (Photo by Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images)

I mean, I still call the Portland Brighton Avenue, Exit 8, and probably always will.





Eclipse traffic was the inspiration for the upcoming Kurt Russell sequel, Escape from Carrabassett Valley.
There aren't that many ways out of that corner of the state. Traffic ground to a halt well before the town line -- maybe even before entering Wyman Twp, and it was about 4 hours of crawling along with my foot on the brake because idle speed was just too fast, and occasionally just shutting the engine off.
There were some police officers directing traffic at Sugarloaf; tons of people had gone there. On a normal day, a stop sign is fine. No traffic light.

My parents & I had suspected Sugarloaf may have been the bottleneck, and a few times I even considered pulling a Uey and taking 16 to Rangeley, but I stuck through it. Probably just as well; it's a big enough tourist destination in its own right. I later saw on Reddit that it took a good 3 hours to get out of there anyway.

Finally began to speed up on the approach to downtown Kingfield. A little surprising IMO, I wouldn't expect the other routes out to be getting terribly high traffic, but it was welcome.
(ME16 goes east to where people had just as many good viewing options in their own backyard, or easier access farther north. ME142? Well, on second thought, I could see people using 142 to head toward the Naples-Bridgton-Fryeburg area, north-central NH, etc.)

A good number of travelers stopped off at a supermarket plaza there at the first sign of civilization to use the restroom. Some nogoodnik had broken the facilities, and an employee was standing out front to direct everybody to the laundromat next door. The line was out the front door, but thankfully it moved faster than ME27 did. One of presumably the owners was there, keeping it stocked with TP. It was a bit stinky. I opened the window.
A big thanks to the proprietors there, the unsung heroes of Eclipse 2024.
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

yakra

Updated I-395 connector drone footage from June 8.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBOPPnwmz2U
There's a bit of footage from a vehicle traveling on the unfinished roadway mixed in there too. No idea if buddy got permission from the powers that are or if he's doing it all ninja-like. It's happened before.
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

hotdogPi

#468
Observations in Portland (took Amtrak there, walked a decent amount):
  • Everything was lobsters. Even "do not dump, drains to Casco Bay" showed a picture of a lobster instead of a typical fish.
  • Portland's riverfront was touristy, but nowhere near the tourist trap that Old Orchard Beach looked like from what I could see from Amtrak.
  • Road-related: I saw two intersections where the pedestrian timer included the walking man. If I had to estimate, I would say about 1/6 of them do that.
  • ME 26's "signed southern terminus" (as opposed to the route log, which goes farther) isn't even signed.
  • Many signs saying snowplows are allowed to ignore one-way streets. I haven't seen any of these signs in Massachusetts, even though Boston definitely has both snowplows and one-way streets.
  • There is no barrier to prevent walking onto I-295, only a whole bunch of signs saying walking on the grass between the surface road and I-295 is illegal.
  • Lots of pride flags (although no specific ones), and lots of future Maine state flags (just a pine tree and a star), even though the switch hasn't happened yet.

LeHay font:
Clinched

Traveled, plus
US 13, 50
MA 22, 35, 40, 53, 79, 107, 109, 126, 138, 141, 159
NH 27, 78, 111A(E); CA 90; NY 366; GA 42, 140; FL A1A, 7; CT 32, 320; VT 2A, 5A; PA 3, 51, 60, WA 202; QC 162, 165, 263; 🇬🇧A100, A3211, A3213, A3215, A4222; 🇫🇷95 D316

Lowest untraveled: 36

yakra

Quote from: hotdogPi on June 29, 2024, 09:23:38 AM
  • ME 26's "signed southern terminus" (as opposed to the route log, which goes farther) isn't even signed.
Holy blap, you're right about the signage! If you rewind GMSV to 2019 it's visible, but it's gone in the latest imagery. Looks like a victim of construction & redoing the curbs; I could say "presumably it'll be back in the future", but it's already the future now, innit. Haven't been round that part of town in quite a while; don't know what if anything is still ongoing.

WRT the terminus, dunno if you're getting your info from roadsaroundme, but that appears to have been last updated in 2009, and is slowly getting more & more outdated.

Route logs once upon a time had an unsigned southern extension to ME77 @ State St via Cumberland Ave, but that's been gone for many years now. MEDOTPUBRDS shapefiles and the MDOT map viewer (which AARoads wiki and... that other wiki, cite) do have the terminus, milepost 0.000, at Cumberland, with Cumberland itself being an Inventory Road.

While on the topc of ME26, looks like it's been relocated onto 26A in Gray, with the old route becoming unnumbered. I'll have to bip on up there & check it out, then make the change in TravelMapping.

Quote from: hotdogPi on June 29, 2024, 09:23:38 AM
  • Many signs saying snowplows are allowed to ignore one-way streets. I haven't seen any of these signs in Massachusetts, even though Boston definitely has both snowplows and one-way streets.
Never actually seen plows moving against the direction of traffic in the 20+ year I've lived here. Unless maybe they mean those little thingamaBobcats that clear the sidewalks?

Quote from: hotdogPi on June 29, 2024, 09:23:38 AM
  • There is no barrier to prevent walking onto I-295, only a whole bunch of signs saying walking on the grass between the surface road and I-295 is illegal.
No? None? What aah you smokin', bub?
There's chain link fence to prevent pedestrians from entering the ROW for pretty much the entire city. This is missing right at a couple key interchanges, but to some degree it's to be expected -- gotta let traffic on & off after all. And anywhere, what's to stop a really determined ped from walking along a ramp up to the roadway?
On Tukey's bridge, there's a small Jersey barrier separating the pedestrian walkway from the highway; hopping over it would be stupid easy. Though you mentioned grass, so I doubt that's what you had in mind.

Quote from: hotdogPi on June 29, 2024, 09:23:38 AMLeHay font:

Oh yuht! Wicked guwud bub!
There are still a good smattering of these to be found around town.
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker

Ted$8roadFan

The I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge between New Hampshire and Maine has been closed in both directions.

https://www.wmur.com/article/i-95-bridge-in-portsmouth-piscataqua-river-bridge-closed-in-both-directions/62002573

vdeane

Quote from: Ted$8roadFan on August 29, 2024, 06:35:35 AMThe I-95 Piscataqua River Bridge between New Hampshire and Maine has been closed in both directions.

https://www.wmur.com/article/i-95-bridge-in-portsmouth-piscataqua-river-bridge-closed-in-both-directions/62002573
Wow.  And right before Labor Day too.  That's going to cause some epic backups.
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

roadman65

#472

https://www.google.com/maps/@43.6315921,-70.3449395,422m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

You can see both old and new configurations together at Exit 45 on I-95.

I'm guessing the change in interchange has todo with the change in tolling collection?
Every day is a winding road, you just got to get used to it.

Sheryl Crowe

shadyjay

Toll collection has pretty much been the same since the 1990s with most traffic paying the toll when they enter the turnpike.  However, I believe Maine EZ-PASS customers still utilize a "virtual ticket" system so there are gantries over the outbound ramps as well. 

While the former Exit 45 trumpet allowed free flowing movements to/from ME 701 (which connects the turnpike with the Maine Mall Rd, I-295, and US 1), it did not permit the extension of ME 701 west of the turnpike towards Gorham, as that is the MTA's next expansion plan.  That road is expected to be a toll road when its eventually built, but not sure how collection will work on it, now that the toll barriers/readers are on the ramps to the mainline turnpike.

The turnpike was (recently) widened in the area of the Exit 45 ramp, so the old bridge had to be replaced anyway.  Its still a free flowing movement from turnpike NB to ME 701, but traffic heading south has to wait at the light to turn left (no road to the right).  I've made the move a few times and it wasn't that long of a wait - not sure how it is during commuting hours, however.

yakra

#474
You mean ME 703. 701 is the Scarborough Connector.

Quotenot sure how collection will work on it
Speculating: Maybe also barriers at the entrances, and one W of the I-95 interchange?

WRT the Gorham Connector project, the NIMBYs are out in full force.
The ROW would take a small corner of Smiling Hill Farm, a popular local dairy farm on ME22 on the Westbrook/Scarborough line.
AIUI (could be wrong here) that corner is wooded, along a stream bed (Red Brook?) and not used for active farming.
Not that it matters; this has pissed off the owners, who are well funded and have taken control of the media narrative. Somehow this project is now "controversial".
There's a lot more of the anti-car nonsense here in the south. Contrast Bangor-Brewer, where shit actually gets built.
I hope this project doesn't get killed. It is sorely needed. Lose the chance now and we may lose it forever.
"Officer, I'm always careful to drive the speed limit no matter where I am and that's what I was doin'." Said "No, you weren't," she said, "Yes, I was." He said, "Madam, I just clocked you at 22 MPH," and she said "That's the speed limit," he said "No ma'am, that's the route numbah!"  - Gary Crocker



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