Currently on vacation, eventually heading into Canada. Spent the past day-and-a-half along the mid-Maine coast (Meaghan has a friend who owns an inn in Newcastle). And both days so far, have been caught in what was a 30-minute delay trying to get through Wiscasset on US 1.
And from what I've been told by locals, this is a regular occurence, not just on summer weekends, but during the week now as well. Numerous factors involved. Looking at 2007 MaineDOT traffic counts, US 1 averages in the 17-20K range through Wiscasset, and this is no doubt much higher on summer weekends. There's a 25 MPH speed limit with a few tight curves and a steep hill through town. There's an at-grade rail crossing just before the bridge across the Sheepscot River. And there are very popular tourist destinations in downtown Wiscasset that send a steady stream of pedestrians across the street. Neither direction is immune...while I was caught in 30 minute delays on northbound (sic EB) US 1, the southbound direction was seeing delays of its own of at least 10-15 minutes.
As of last year, MaineDOT was working on a Draft EIS for a bypass project (which is SORELY needed, not to mention 4-laning US 1). But the locals are telling me this has been pushed around for at least 4 decades...nobody can come to an agreement...and at this point it's doubtful funding could be found anyway.
So the situation is likely to stew...
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Topic: US 1 in Wiscasset, ME (Read 8398 times)