I-95 shut down from Richmond to Topsham (Gardiner)

[peachie_in_maine]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Have you had to deal with the shutdown of the southbound side of I-95 from Richmond to Topsham yet?
I had to take the SAAB to Augusta for rear shocks blown out from the lovely roads this spring. Only to find I had to take 201 from Gardiner to Topsham on the way home! It was a nice ride but much longer than the highway. I'll bet those living along 201 are not real happy with the increase in traffic!

That was my Easter gift to me.... to take my car in for new struts, tires, and a front end alignment. Thanks to the roads around us.

I guess it's just me frustrated about the roads but the new bridge here is being put in the wrong area ( I think) and it's taken up all the areas time for needed road repair.

[Boomerang]

I read all the road closure debates in the papers, and for awhile, thought they were going to go with the option of making 295 North a two-lane north/south route, instead of re-routing southbound traffic to 201. Not sure why they they didn't ---- except that they hoped a lot of folks would re-route themselves to 95 instead.

I'm glad to hear there's increased police activity to catch speeders. In my experience around here, if a speed limit sign says 30-45, nobody will be doing less than 50, and most 55., even around dangerous corners and through village centers.

[AlisonL]

LOVE road construction. Its paid our bills for many many years, and will continue to do so..albeit in another state.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by Boomerang

I read all the road closure debates in the papers, and for awhile, thought they were going to go with the option of making 295 North a two-lane north/south route, instead of re-routing southbound traffic to 201. Not sure why they they didn't ---- except that they hoped a lot of folks would re-route themselves to 95 instead.

I'm glad to hear there's increased police activity to catch speeders. In my experience around here, if a speed limit sign says 30-45, nobody will be doing less than 50, and most 55., even around dangerous corners and through village centers.

They would have had to come up with 20 miles of those Jersey barrier concrete things to divide the northbound lane in two and it was just too expensive.

[Boomerang]

Originally Posted by Maineah

They would have had to come up with 20 miles of those Jersey barrier concrete things to divide the northbound lane in two and it was just too expensive.

Ah.....that makes sense..........

[freemejersey]

Help! I need clarification. Are we talking about the southern route of 295? Not, I-95, right? We are bringing our camper down to a campground below Bath and normally we take I-95 and then take the 295 corridor to Bath. My last ride down about a month ago to Portland left us sitting on 295 for an hour and only moving about 2 1/2 miles. We finally got off at Lisbon Falls and took a back road in to Portland. Nice ride but delayed us by almost two hours. We thought it best to use I-95 South after that to avoid the mess.

Can someone let me know so I don't end up sitting in our truck burning fuel? Maybe it would be better for me to get off at Gardiner and take the back roads down to Bath. Does anyone know if the Gardiner bridge construction is complete? That was just a nightmare to cross last summer. Thanks

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by freemejersey

Help! I need clarification. Are we talking about the southern route of 295? Not, I-95, right? We are bringing our camper down to a campground below Bath and normally we take I-95 and then take the 295 corridor to Bath. My last ride down about a month ago to Portland left us sitting on 295 for an hour and only moving about 2 1/2 miles. We finally got off at Lisbon Falls and took a back road in to Portland. Nice ride but delayed us by almost two hours. We thought it best to use I-95 South after that to avoid the mess.

Can someone let me know so I don't end up sitting in our truck burning fuel? Maybe it would be better for me to get off at Gardiner and take the back roads down to Bath. Does anyone know if the Gardiner bridge construction is complete? That was just a nightmare to cross last summer. Thanks

That is actually where they are routing the I-95 traffic now anyway. The closed section is actually I-95 from Richmond to Topsham.The whole southbound lane is closed for about an 18 mile stretch. They are re-routing traffic onto either Route 201 in Gardiner or onto I-495 (which is the Maine turnpike)

[PMBird]

Originally Posted by freemejersey

Can someone let me know so I don't end up sitting in our truck burning fuel? Maybe it would be better for me to get off at Gardiner and take the back roads down to Bath. Does anyone know if the Gardiner bridge construction is complete? That was just a nightmare to cross last summer. Thanks

The Gardiner bridge construction is complete and I absolutely agree that crossing that bridge last year was an absolute nightmare.

The only section of road closed is I-295 southbound between Gardiner & Topsham.

[Mark S.]

Traffic is definitely a lot thicker along 201. Still... I have to keep in mind: Heavy traffic in Maine isn't really heavy traffic. The worst traffic I've been in in Maine is nothing compared to the everyday traffic I used to see in Washington State.

In Washington, I used to commute about 19 miles every day. There were times it took well over 90 minutes.

I love Maine!

[freemejersey]

Yeah, Maine traffic is not usually that bad. I did encounter the back up on 295 South (end of Memorial Day weekend) and we have experienced slow congested traffic along Route 1 around Wiscasset (during the summer). However, it doesn't come close to compare to South Jersey/Phila traffic! I traveled 22 miles to my job in Phila and on average it always took me between 1 hour and 90 minutes--ONE WAY and that was without any accidents or breakdowns.