U.S. Route 1 in Maine

(Redirected from U.S. Route 1 (Maine))

U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in the U.S. state of Maine is a major north–south section of the United States Numbered Highway System, serving the eastern part of the state. It parallels the Atlantic Ocean from New Hampshire north through Portland, Brunswick, and Belfast to Calais, and then the St. Croix River and the rest of the Canada–United States border via Houlton to Fort Kent. The portion along the ocean, known as the Coastal Route, provides a scenic alternate to Interstate 95 (I-95).

U.S. Route 1 marker
U.S. Route 1
Map
US 1 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by MaineDOT
Length526.05 mi[1][2] (846.60 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
South end US 1 at the New Hampshire state line
Major intersections
North end Route 161 in Clair, NB
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountiesYork, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox, Waldo, Hancock, Washington, Aroostook
Highway system
I-495 US 1A
Route 20N.E. Route 25

Route description

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US 1 enters Maine from New Hampshire by bridging the Piscataqua River at Kittery on the Memorial Bridge. Following the sandy southern Maine coast, the highway bridges the Cape Neddick River in Cape Neddick; the Josias and Ogunquit rivers in Ogunquit; the Webhannet River in Wells; and the Merriland, Mousam, and Kennebunk rivers in Kennebunk. After bridging the Saco River between Biddeford and Saco, the highway bridges the Nonesuch River in Scarborough.

In South Portland, US 1 merges with I-295 at exit 4 and continues north through downtown Portland to Tukey's Bridge, now on I-295, before separating at exit 9. The Charles Loring Highway is part of US 1 in Portland. Like Loring Air Force Base, it is named for Charles J. Loring Jr.

North of Portland, the highway bridges the Presumpscot River (via the Martin's Point Bridge) in Falmouth, the Royal River in Yarmouth, and the Cousins River in Freeport before following the Androscoggin River through Brunswick and crossing the Kennebec River on the Sagadahoc Bridge between Bath and Woolwich. The section between Brunswick (at its junction with US 201) and Bath is a four-lane freeway, and the route continues as a four-lane expressway through most of Bath, then crosses on a two-lane viaduct before becoming four lanes again on the bridge over the Kennebec River. It then becomes a three-lane road (with center turning lane) through Woolwich and then reverts to two lanes after that as it continues north toward Wiscasset.

The highway bridges the Sheepscot River in Wiscasset, the Damariscotta River in Damariscotta, the Medomak River in Waldoboro, and the Saint George River in Thomaston before reaching Rockland.

In Rockland, there is a bypass of downtown (US 1A) which travels along Broadway and Maverick streets, while US 1 itself has a one way pair with Main and Union streets in the downtown Rockland area (Main Street traffic goes north with two lanes, while Union Street traffic is southbound).

The highway follows the coast of Penobscot Bay bridging the Goose River in Rockport, the Ducktrap River in Lincolnville, the Little River in Northport, and the Passagassawakeag River in Belfast before bridging the Penobscot River at Bucksport. The Atlantic coast is less frequently visible as the highway bridges the Orland River in Orland, the Union River in Ellsworth, Sullivan Harbor in Sullivan, the Narraguagus River in Cherryfield, the Harrington River in Harrington, the Pleasant River at Columbia Falls, the Indian River in Addison, and the Chandler River in Jonesboro.

 
The monument marking the northern terminus in Fort Kent

After bridging the East Machias and Machias rivers in Machias, the highway turns inland along Passamaquoddy Bay to bridge the Orange River in Whiting, the Dennys River in Dennysville, and the Pennamaquan River in Pembroke. The highway then follows the St. Croix River through Calais and turns inland at Woodland. The interior route bridges Grand Falls Flowage at Princeton, the Meduxnekeag River in Houlton, the North Branch Meduxnekeag River in Monticello, and the Aroostook River in Presque Isle before following the Saint John River upstream from Van Buren to Fort Kent.

From Madawaska to its "northern" terminus at the Clair–Fort Kent Bridge in Fort Kent, US 1 north actually travels geographically south.[3] The route's most northerly geographic point is at its intersection with the Edmundston–Madawaska Bridge in Madawaska, across the Saint John River from Edmundston, New Brunswick, Canada.

History

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US 1 south of Calais was initially part of the Atlantic Highway and became Route 1 when the New England road marking system was established in 1922.[4] The northward continuation from Calais was later designated as part of Route 24. In the original plan, Route 24 was to run from Brunswick to Moosehead Lake in Greenville. By 1925, however, Maine had transferred the Route 24 designation to a completely new alignment on the eastern edge of the state, running from Calais to Madawaska at a border crossing with Edmundston, New Brunswick.

The initial 1925 plan for the U.S. Route system took US 1 along the better-quality inland route (then Route 15)[5] between Bangor and Houlton, and placed US 2 on the coastal route.[6] This changed in the final 1926 plan, when the inland shortcut—now generally followed by I-95—became part of US 2.[7]

The Waldo–Hancock Bridge opened in 1931,[8] allowing US 1 to bypass Bangor; the old route became US 1A.

The portion between Portland and Brunswick was rebuilt, mainly as a four-lane divided highway, in the 1950s, and later absorbed into I-95 (now I-295). A freeway from Brunswick east to Bath was built in the 1960s.

Major junctions

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CountyLocation[1]mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
YorkKittery0.000.00 
 
US 1 south – Portsmouth
Continuation from New Hampshire over the Piscataqua River
0.580.93  SR 103 – Eliot, Navy Yard, Kittery Foreside
1.512.43  
 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 236 to I-95 south (Maine Turnpike) / US 1 Byp. south – Kittery Point, New Hampshire, Massachusetts
Rotary; southern end of southbound concurrency with SR 236
1.702.74 
 
SR 236 north – South Berwick, Eliot
Northern end of southbound concurrency with SR 236
1.792.88 
 
 
US 1 Byp. south – New Hampshire, Massachusetts
Southbound left exit and northbound left entrance; northern terminus of US 1 Byp.
2.073.33   I-95 / Maine Turnpike – Portland, Augusta, Portsmouth, BostonExit 3 on I-95 / Turnpike
2.393.85 
 
SR 101 north – Eliot
Southern terminus of SR 101
York6.7210.81 
 
SR 91 north – South Berwick
Southern terminus of SR 91
7.0911.41 
 
US 1A north – York Village, York Harbor, York Beach
Southern terminus of US 1A
7.4311.96   I-95 / Maine TurnpikeExit 7 on I-95 / Turnpike; access via Spur Road
10.6917.20 
 
US 1A south
Northern terminus of US 1A
Wells18.2829.42 
 
SR 9B west – North Berwick, Berwick
Eastern terminus of SR 9B
20.2732.62 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 9 west / SR 109 north to I-95 / Maine Turnpike – Sanford
Southern end of concurrency with SR 9; southern terminus of SR 109
22.1235.60 
 
SR 9 east – Kennebunkport, Kennebunk
Northern end of concurrency with SR 9
Kennebunk25.1040.39 
 
 
 
SR 9A west / SR 99 west – Sanford
Southern end of concurrency with SR 9A; eastern terminus of SR 99
25.4640.97 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 35 north to I-95 / Maine Turnpike
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 35
25.5041.04 
 
 
 
SR 9A east / SR 35 south – Kennebunkport
Northern end of concurrency with SR 9 / SR 35
Biddeford31.7951.16 
 
 
 
 
 
To I-95 / Maine Turnpike / SR 111
Biddeford Connector
32.94–
33.01
53.01–
53.12
  
 
 
 
SR 111 to I-95 / Maine Turnpike – Biddeford Pool, Alfred
Brief concurrency with SR 111
Saco34.9356.21 
 
  
 
SR 5 north / SR 112 to SR 9 – Bar Mills, Buxton
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 5
35.8257.65 
 
SR 5 south – Old Orchard Beach
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 5
35.9157.79  
 
 
 
I-195 to I-95 / Maine Turnpike
No exit to I-195 east; Exit 2 on I-195
38.5462.02 
 
SR 98 east – Old Orchard Beach
Western terminus of SR 98
CumberlandScarborough40.6465.40 
 
SR 9 west (Pine Point Road) – Old Orchard Beach
Southern end of concurrency with SR 9
43.7370.38 
 
SR 207 south – Prouts Neck
 
 
SR 114 north – Gorham
Northern terminus of SR 207
Southern terminus of SR 114
44.8972.24 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To I-95 / Maine Turnpike / I-295 north – Portland
Interchange; eastbound exit and westbound entrance; access via SR 701
South Portland46.2674.45 
 
 
 
 
 
 
To I-95 / Maine Turnpike / I-295 north
Access via SR 703
46.3974.66 
 
SR 9 east – South Portland
Northern end of concurrency with SR 9
47.9777.20 
 
Veterans Memorial Bridge to US 1A – Portland Waterfront
Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance
48.4077.89 
 
I-295 south – South Portland, Scarborough
Southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern end of concurrency with I-295; Exit 4 on I-295 south
South PortlandPortland line48.5678.15Fore River
Portland49.3279.37   SR 22 / US 1A (Congress Street)I-295 Exit 5; signed as Exits 5A (east) and 5B (west) southbound
50.2180.81 
 
SR 100 south (Forest Avenue)
I-295 Exit 6A; US 1 removed from Forest Avenue in May 2007
 
 
 
 
SR 100 north (Forest Avenue) / US 302 west
I-295 Exit 6B
50.7581.67  US 1A (Franklin Street)I-295 Exit 7
51.4382.77 
 
SR 26 south (Washington Avenue)
I-295 Exit 8; southbound signage; southbound exit and northbound entrance; southern end of concurrency with SR 26
51.5983.03 
 
SR 26 north (Washington Avenue)
I-295 Exit 8; northbound signage; northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern end of concurrency with SR 26
51.8383.41 
 
 
 
US 1 south / SR 26 north (Washington Avenue) / Baxter Boulevard
I-295 Exit 9; southbound signage; southbound exit and northbound entrance; US 1 removed from Baxter Boulevard in May 2007
51.9983.67 
 
I-295 north – Falmouth, Brunswick
Northbound exit and southbound entrance; northern end of concurrency with I-295; Exit 9 on I-295 north
PortlandFalmouth line52.6584.73Martin Point Bridge over the Presumpscot River
Falmouth54.0386.95 
 
SR 88 north
Southern terminus of SR 88
55.2288.87 
 
Bucknam Road to I-295
55.5489.38 
 
 
 
I-495 west (Falmouth Spur) to I-95 / Maine Turnpike – Lewiston, Kittery
Cumberland58.6394.36 
 
Tuttle Road to SR 88 – Cumberland Center, Cumberland Foreside
Grade-separated intersection
Yarmouth59.78–
59.95
96.21–
96.48
  I-295 – Freeport, PortlandExit 15 on I-295
61.0498.23  SR 115Interchange
61.9899.75 
 
SR 88 south – Falmouth
Northern terminus of SR 88
62.07–
62.25
99.89–
100.18
  I-295 – Brunswick, PortlandExit 17 on I-295
Freeport65.63105.62 
 
Desert Road to I-295 – Brunswick, Augusta, Portland
Exit 20 on I-295
67.17108.10 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 125 north / SR 136 north to I-295 – Durham
68.70110.56 
 
I-295 north
Exit 24 on I-295
Brunswick73.93118.98  I-295 – Freeport, Portland, Topsham, AugustaRotary
75.74121.89 
 
 
 
SR 24 south (Maine Street) / SR 123 south – Harpswell
Northbound signage; southern end of limited-access segment
 
 
 
 
US 201 north / SR 24 north – Topsham
Southbound signage
76.42122.99 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 196 west to SR 24 / I-295 – Topsham, Lewiston
Eastern terminus of SR 196, Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 24
78.50126.33  SR 24 – Cook's Corner, Brunswick Executive Airport, Orr's-Bailey IslandsNorthern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 24
CumberlandSagadahoc
county line
BrunswickWest Bath line81.16130.61New Meadows River
SagadahocWest Bath81.32130.87New Meadows Road – West Bath
Bath82.98133.54Congress Avenue / Richardson Street – BathRichardson street only appears on northbound signage; Bath only appears on southbound signage
83.57134.49 
 
SR 209 south – Phippsburg
Northbound signage; northern terminus of SR 209
84.15135.43 
 
 
To SR 209 south – Phippsburg, Bath
Southbound signage; access to Visitor Center
BathWoolwich line84.29135.65Sagadahoc Bridge over the Kennebec River
Woolwich84.64136.21 
 
SR 127 south – Georgetown, Reid State Park, Arrowsic
Southern end of concurrency with SR 127; northern end of limited-access segment
84.93136.68 
 
SR 127 north
Northern end of concurrency with SR 127
LincolnWiscasset90.73146.02  SR 144 – Westport
94.03151.33 
 
SR 27 north – Augusta, Gardiner
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 27
94.31151.78  SR 218
WiscassetEdgecomb line94.73152.45Sheepscot Bridge over the Sheepscot River
Edgecomb95.92154.37 
 
SR 27 south – Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 27
Newcastle101.12162.74 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
US 1 Bus. to SR 129 / SR 130 / SR 215 – Pemaquid Point, Pemaquid Beach, Damariscotta, Bristol
Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; southern terminus of US 1 Bus
102.11164.33  SR 215 – Newcastle, Damariscotta, Damariscotta MillsInterchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Damariscotta104.03167.42 
 
US 1 Bus. – Bristol, South Bristol, Pemaquid, Pemaquid Point, Pemaquid Beach, Damariscotta
Northern terminus of US 1 Bus
Waldoboro111.58179.57  SR 32 – Waldoboro, Bremen, Jefferson
112.42180.92  SR 220 – Friendship, Washington
113.34182.40  SR 235 – Union, Hope
KnoxWarren118.01189.92 
 
SR 90 east – Camden, Rockport
Western terminus of SR 90
121.21195.07  SR 97 (Cushing Road) – Friendship
Thomaston122.36196.92 
 
SR 131 north – Union
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 131
124.13199.77 
 
SR 131 south – St. George
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 131
Rockland127.15204.63  US 1A (Broadway)Southern terminus of US 1A
127.60205.35 
 
SR 73 south
Northern terminus of SR 73
128.66207.06   US 1A / SR 17 (Maverick Street) – Thomaston, UnionNorthern terminus of US 1A
Rockport133.83215.38 
 
SR 90 west – Warren
Eastern terminus of SR 90
Camden135.77218.50  SR 105 – Hope, Appleton
135.98218.84  SR 52 – Lincolnville Center
WaldoLincolnville141.59227.87  SR 173 (Beach Road / McKay Road)
Belfast153.89247.66  SR 52 – Lincolnville Center
154.30248.32 
 
SR 3 west – Belfast, Augusta
Interchange; southern end of concurrency with SR 3
154.80–
155.11
249.13–
249.63
   SR 7 / SR 137 – Belfast, Brooks, FreedomInterchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance via High Street
155.32249.96Passagassawakeag River
155.60250.41  SR 141 – Swanville
Stockton Springs165.03265.59  US 1A – Winterport, BangorSouthern terminus of US 1A
Prospect171.14275.42  SR 174 – Fort Knox
WaldoHancock
county line
ProspectVerona Island line171.33275.73Penobscot Narrows Bridge over the Penobscot River
HancockBucksport172.71277.95 
 
SR 15 north – Bucksport, Bangor
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 15
Orland173.86279.80  SR 46 – Dedham, East Holden
174.48280.80  SR 175 – Orland, Castine
177.11285.03 
 
SR 15 south – Penobscot, Blue Hill, Deer Isle
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 15
181.29291.76  SR 176 – Surry
Ellsworth191.65308.43  SR 172 – Blue Hill, Surry
191.85308.75  SR 230 (Water Street)
192.13309.20  US 1A – BangorNorthern terminus of US 1A
193.16310.86 
 
SR 3 east – Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park
Northern end of concurrency with SR 3
194.03312.26  SR 184 – Lamoine
Hancock197.86318.42  SR 182 – Cherryfield
Sullivan204.32328.82  SR 200 – Franklin
205.31330.41  SR 185 – Sorrento
206.90332.97  SR 183 – Tunk Lake
Gouldsboro210.35338.53  SR 186 – Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor
211.60340.54  SR 195 – Prospect Harbor, Corea
213.51343.61  SR 186 – Prospect Harbor, Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor
WashingtonMilbridge223.81360.19  US 1A – Calais, Machias, HarringtonSouthern terminus of US 1A
Cherryfield228.78368.19  SR 182 – Franklin, Ellsworth
228.95368.46  SR 193 – Deblois
Harrington235.54379.06  US 1A – Milbridge, EllsworthNorthern terminus of US 1A
Columbia Falls241.13388.06  SR 187 – Addison, Jonesport, Beals
Jonesboro246.97397.46  SR 187 – Jonesport, Beals Island
250.08402.46  US 1A – WhitneyvilleSouthern terminus of US 1A
Machias255.77411.62  SR 92 – Machiasport
255.92411.86  SR 192 (Colonial Way) – Wesley
256.34412.54  US 1A – WhitneyvilleNorthern terminus of US 1A
East Machias260.15418.67 
 
SR 191 north – Baring Plantation
Southern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 191
260.24418.82 
 
SR 191 south – Cutler
Northern end of wrong-way concurrency with SR 191
Whiting272.87439.14  SR 189 – Lubec
Dennysville282.27454.27  SR 86 – Dennysville
Pembroke286.72461.43  SR 214 – Meddybemps
Perry293.32472.05  SR 190 – Pleasant Point, Eastport
Calais313.82505.04 
 
SR 9 east – St. Stephen NB, International Bridge
Southern end of concurrency with SR 9
316.00508.55  International Avenue to Route 1 – St. Stephen, St. John
Baring319.48514.15  SR 191 – Machias
Baileyville320.73516.16 
 
SR 9 west – Bangor
Northern end of concurrency with SR 9
Topsfield350.08563.40  SR 6 – Lincoln, Vanceboro, St. Croix NB, Springfield
Danforth370.51596.28  SR 169 – Prentiss, Springfield
AroostookHoulton404.43650.87 
 
US 2 east – Woodstock NB
Southern end of concurrency with US 2
404.50650.98  US 2A – Bangor
404.79651.45 
 
US 2 west – Island Falls
Northern end of concurrency with US 2
405.54–
405.68
652.65–
652.88
  I-95 – New Brunswick, Canada, BangorExit 302 on I-95
Mars Hill432.00695.24  US 1A – Fort FairfieldSouthern terminus of US 1A
Presque Isle446.24718.15  SR 10 – Easton
446.87719.17  SR 167 – Fort Fairfield
447.73720.55  
 
 
 
SR 163 to SR 167 / SR 227 – Fort Fairfield, Ashland
448.07721.10  SR 164 – Washburn
Caribou455.76733.47  
 
SR 164 to SR 228 – Caribou
458.63738.09 
 
  SR 161 south / SR 161B (Fort Street) – Fort Fairfield
Southern end of concurrency with SR 161
459.20739.01 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SR 89 west to SR 164 / SR 228 / SR 161B – Caribou
Southern end of concurrency with SR 89
459.67739.77 
 
SR 161 north – Van Buren
Northern end of concurrency with SR 161
459.89740.12 
 
SR 89 east – Limestone
Northern end of concurrency with SR 89
461.34742.45  SR 161Grade-separated intersection
Van Buren481.06774.19  US 1A – LimestoneNorthern terminus of US 1A
Frenchville513.06825.69  SR 162 – St. Agatha
Fort Kent524.97844.86 
 
SR 161 south – Caribou
Southern end of concurrency with SR 161
525.48845.68  SR 11 (Pleasant Street)
525.92846.39 
 
SR 161 north – Allagash
Northern end of concurrency with SR 161
526.05846.60  Route 161 north – ClairContinuation beyond Fort Kent–Clair Border Crossing on the Clair–Fort Kent Bridge over Saint John River into New Brunswick; northern terminus of US 1
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

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  1. ^ a b c "MaineDOT Public Map Viewer". Maine Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 12, 2017.
  2. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, United States Numbered Highways, 1989 Edition Archived 2007-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "47°18'56.0"N 68°22'39.3"W" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  4. ^ New York Times, Motor Sign Uniformity, April 16, 1922, p. 98
  5. ^ Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas, 1926, accessed via the Broer Map Library
  6. ^ Joint Board on Interstate Highways (1925). "Appendix VI: Descriptions of the Interstate Routes Selected, with Numbers Assigned". Report of Joint Board on Interstate Highways, October 30, 1925, Approved by the Secretary of Agriculture, November 18, 1925 (Report). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture. p. 49. OCLC 733875457, 55123355, 71026428. Retrieved November 14, 2017 – via Wikisource.
  7. ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  8. ^ Maine Department of Transportation, Waldo-Hancock Bridge, accessed October 2007
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