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Items of InterestRead this story about Maine's interstate: Download the official Press Release: |
Fun Interstate Facts
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One of the nations most scenic highwaysIn 1961, Parade Magazine's "Scenic Highway"contest gave first prize to the section of Maine's Interstate from Augusta to Fairfield. In 1965, the section from Bangor to Newport received honorable mention in that year's "Scenic Highway" contest. |
Which direction is which?Between Waterville and Bangor, I-95 loops northwest to provide connections to US Route 2, a major east-west highway, and Maine Route 7, which provides a connection from the coast to the Moosehead Lake region. In generating favorable highway alignments, engineers created a situation where the northbound lanes of I-95 actually run east-southeast and the southbound lanes actually run west-northwest. Better not use the sun’s location for navigation! |
First section to be builtIn 1957, the first section to be built as an Interstate project was the current I-295 between Brunswick and Freeport. |
A long roadThe total number of Interstate miles in Maine is 367. In comparison, Massachusetts has 573 miles and Rhode Island has 73 miles. |
Where'd that name come from?Tukey's Bridge, an Interstate bridge in Portland, was the first six-lane bridge built in Maine. Its name-which is still used today-derived from Lemuel Tukey, a tavern owner and toll collector for the Back Cove bridge in the late 18th century. |
That's a lot of money!The Piscataqua River Bridge connecting Maine and New Hampshire was the most expensive bridge ever built in northern New England at the time of its completion in 1972. A whopping $21 million in 1972 dollars which translates to nearly $96 million in 2005 dollars. |
No advertising pleaseMaine was one of 14 states that signed an outdoor advertising agreement with the Federal Highway Administration by 1961. Maine agreed not to place outdoor advertising within 660 feet of right-of-way boundary lines in exchange for a bonus award on construction costs. |
Deer mirrorsThe original section of I-295 from Gardiner to Falmouth was the target of a study to try to cut down on the number of deer killed on rural Interstate highways. Reflective “deer mirrors” were mounted on trees along the side of the highway. The intent was that the mirrors would reflect the headlights of oncoming cars into the woods, “freezing” the deer in place until after the vehicle had passed by. John Dority, Chief Engineer of MaineDOT says the study produced “no data to prove it worked.” |
