Interstate 495 - Falmouth Spur

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Interstate 495Maine Turnpike

AASHTO approved the establishment of Interstate 495 over the Maine Turnpike mainline from West Falmouth to Gardiner on December 4, 1987. The toll road was previously unnumbered along this stretch.

The 2004 rerouting of Interstates 95, 295, and 495 in Maine resulted in the decommissioning of Interstate 495 along the Maine Turnpike mainline between the Falmouth Spur and Gardiner. That path is now a part of Interstate 95 between Portland and Augusta. I-95 originally followed a toll free highway south from Gardiner to Falmouth and the Maine Turnpike Falmouth Spur west to the Maine Turnpike mainline. With Interstate 295 following the original I-95 alignment between Falmouth and Gardiner, the 4.2 mile Falmouth Spur was redesignated as I-495. Since the spur acts as a connector between the two north-south routes, I-495 is unsigned with trailblazers for Interstates 95 and 295 posted for the route instead. The Falmouth Spur of the Maine Turnpike opened in conjunction with the turnpike mainline between Portland and Augusta in 1955.1

Interstate 495 East
Interstate 405 arcs east from Interstate 95 across the Presumpscot River to a main line toll plaza in Falmouth. A single cash lane occupies the outside of the six lane plaza, with all other lanes dedicated to E-ZPass electronic toll collection.

Interstate 405 arcs east from Interstate 95 across the Presumpscot River to a main line toll plaza in Falmouth. A single cash lane occupies the outside of the six lane plaza, with all other lanes dedicated to E-ZPass electronic toll collection.

06/30/11

Maine 9 (Middle Road) passing above, Interstate 495 approaches the loop ramp for I-295 north to Augusta and trumpet interchange with U.S. 1 at Falmouth.

Maine 9 (Middle Road) passing above, Interstate 495 approaches the loop ramp for I-295 north to Augusta and trumpet interchange with U.S. 1 at Falmouth.

06/30/11

Interstate 295 leaves the Portland area to Yarmouth, Freeport and Topsham. U.S. 1 parallels the freeway nearby to Brunswick. The left lane of the ending I-495 east defaults onto U.S. 1 north to Cumberland Foreside and Yarmouth.

Interstate 295 leaves the Portland area to Yarmouth, Freeport and Topsham. U.S. 1 parallels the freeway nearby to Brunswick.
The left lane of the ending I-495 east defaults onto U.S. 1 north to Cumberland Foreside and Yarmouth.

06/30/11

Motorists taking the right side ramp from I-495 separate into movements for I-295 north and adjacent U.S. 1 south. There is no direct access to I-295 south. Instead drivers are directed onto U.S. 1 south at Falmouth to Bucknam Road for its ramps to the Portland urban loop.

Motorists taking the right side ramp from I-495 separate into movements for I-295 north and adjacent U.S. 1 south. There is no direct access to I-295 south. Instead drivers are directed onto U.S. 1 south at Falmouth to Bucknam Road for its ramps to the Portland urban loop.

06/30/11

Interstate 495 West
A trumpet interchange joins Interstate 495 with U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) at the east end of the Falmouth Spur. A second pair of ramps join I-295 south with I-495 west and I-495 east with I-295 north. Just west of both interchanges and just ahead of the CN Railroad underpass is a Maine Turnpike welcome sign.

A trumpet interchange joins Interstate 495 with U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) at the east end of the Falmouth Spur. A second pair of ramps join I-295 south with I-495 west and I-495 east with I-295 north. Just west of both interchanges and just ahead of the CN Railroad underpass is a Maine Turnpike welcome sign.

06/28/05

There are no interchanges along the Falmouth Spur mainline. Maine 9 (Middle Road) passes over the four lane freeway here.

There are no interchanges along the Falmouth Spur mainline. Maine 9 (Middle Road) passes over the four lane freeway here.

06/27/05

Interstate 495 enters a main line toll plaza west of the Maine 9 over crossing. All passenger vehicles are charged a $1.00 (2015 rates) toll.

Interstate 495 enters a main line toll plaza west of the Maine 9 over crossing. All passenger vehicles are charged a $1.00 (2015 rates) toll.

06/28/05

Passing through the six lane toll plaza along Interstate 495 west. Two lanes per direction are dedicated for E-ZPass account holders. Drivers taking the all electronic toll lanes must slow to 10 miles per hour.
2 photos

Passing through the six lane toll plaza along Interstate 495 west. Two lanes per direction are dedicated for E-ZPass account holders. Drivers taking the all electronic toll lanes must slow to 10 miles per hour.

06/28/05

06/27/05

The Maine Turnpike doubles as the Maine Gold Star Memorial Highway. Signs such as these are usually placed beyond the exits of main line toll plazas.

The Maine Turnpike doubles as the Maine Gold Star Memorial Highway. Signs such as these are usually placed beyond the exits of main line toll plazas.

06/27/05

Four lanes of Interstate 495 travel between the Falmouth Road overpass and Presumpscot River. Designs of the 1955-constructed roadway resemble that of other area toll highways including the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
2 photos

Four lanes of Interstate 495 travel between the Falmouth Road overpass and Presumpscot River. Designs of the 1955-constructed roadway resemble that of other area toll highways including the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.

06/27/05

Interstate 495 prepares to meet Interstate 95 as it leaves the Presumpscot River crossing. A standard trumpet interchange joins the two routes midway between the I-95 interchanges at West Falmouth and west Portland.

Interstate 495 prepares to meet Interstate 95 as it leaves the Presumpscot River crossing. A standard trumpet interchange joins the two routes midway between the I-95 interchanges at West Falmouth and west Portland.

06/27/05

With the replacement of signage for Interstate 495, many signs feature a three-digit sized Interstate 95 shield. That is the case because Interstate 495 shields were of the same size, and for whatever reason sign shops manufactured identical sized markers. I-495 otherwise partitions into single-lane ramps onto I-95 north and south.

With the replacement of signage for Interstate 495, many signs feature a three-digit sized Interstate 95 shield. That is the case because Interstate 495 shields were of the same size, and for whatever reason sign shops manufactured identical sized markers. I-495 otherwise partitions into single-lane ramps onto I-95 north and south.

06/27/05

I-495 crosses both the Portland Terminal Railroad and Blackstrap Road just ahead of the separation for Interstate 95 north and south. I-95 follows the entire Maine Turnpike mainline between Kittery and Gardiner. Northbound serves Lewiston and Auburn while southbound serves South Portland, Saco and Kennebunk.

I-495 crosses both the Portland Terminal Railroad and Blackstrap Road just ahead of the separation for Interstate 95 north and south. I-95 follows the entire Maine Turnpike mainline between Kittery and Gardiner. Northbound serves Lewiston and Auburn while southbound serves South Portland, Saco and Kennebunk.

06/27/05

Interstate 495 partitions into its ramps to Interstate 95 and ends. I-95 north meets Maine 26 & 100 (Gray Road) at nearby Exit 53. Southbound travelers have a bit further to travel to the Riverside Street interchange (Exit 48) to Westbrook.

Interstate 495 partitions into its ramps to Interstate 95 and ends. I-95 north meets Maine 26 & 100 (Gray Road) at nearby Exit 53. Southbound travelers have a bit further to travel to the Riverside Street interchange (Exit 48) to Westbrook.

06/27/05

References:

  1. Maine Interstate turns 50! - Interstate Timeline. http://www.maine.gov/mdot/interstate/timeline.php

Photo Credits:

Connect with:

Interstate 95Interstate 95
Interstate 295Interstate 295
U.S. 1U.S. 1

Page Updated Tuesday February 03, 2015.