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Interstate 195 Maine

The Interstate 195 Maine freeway links the Maine Turnpike with the Old Orchard Beach and Oceanway communities along the Atlantic coastline. The highway also offers a limited-access route from Downtown Saco to Interstate 95.

Routing

Opened to traffic in 1983,1 Interstate 195 (the Saco Industrial Spur) is a short freeway spur from Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike to U.S. 1 and Maine 5 near the city of Saco. According to Eric Bryant, the merge with Maine 5 is located on the Saco-Old Orchard Beach line, but one last at-grade intersection is within Saco city limits. As a result, the Maine Department of Transportation route log lists the eastern terminus in Saco.2 Interstate 195 features two mainline interchanges and transitions directly onto Maine 5/Saco Avenue en route to the coast and Old Orchard Beach. Due to its short length, Interstate 195 is not always displayed on statewide maps of Maine.

Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Maine 1.55 Saco Interstate 95
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Interstate 195 Maine Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

County From To AADT East AADT West AADT Composite
York Maine Turnpike/I-95 Exit 1 Ind Park Road 10,270 10,090 20,360
York Exit 1 Ind Park Road Exit 2 U.S. 1 & Maine 5 Main Street 9,060 8,750 17,810
York Exit 2 U.S. 1 & Maine 5 Main Street Maine 5 - Old Orchard Beach 8,806 8,266 17,072
Source: Traffic Volumes Count 2001 Annual Report (MEDOT)
* - all count data collected 2000
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Western Terminus - Interstate 95 - Saco, Maine
Perspective from Interstate 195 west
Interstate 195 westbound at the three-quarter cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 1 (Main Street) and Maine 5 (Ocean Park Road). Maine 5 parallels the freeway west from its beginning to the merge with Main Street at Exit 2. U.S. 1 & Maine 5 share pavement through downtown Saco to Lincoln Street. The first sign for the western terminus at the Maine Turnpike resides at the Exit 2A ramp departure onto Main Street south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
After paying a toll, motorists partition into ramps for Interstate 95 north and south at Interstate 195's conclusion. The Exit 36 trumpet interchange of the Main Turnpike was originally a half-cloverleaf interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Winter time view of the Interstate 195 junction with Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike). Interstate 95 northbound heads 8 miles to the split with Interstate 295 near South Portland. Southbound travelers reach Kittery in 29 miles. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (12/02).
Perspective from Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike north
Attached to the Maine 5 (New County Road) overpass is the two mile guide sign for Interstate 195 (old Exit 5/new Exit 36) eastbound. The distance of 3.2 kilometers is also shown for French-Canadian motorists. Dual English/metric guide signs are somewhat common in the northern New England states. Photo taken by Jim Teresco (11/01).
One-mile guide sign for Interstate 195 east (Exit 36) on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) northbound. The spur of Interstate 95 is signed with the control cities of Saco and Old Orchard Beach. The towns are both along the routing of Maine 5, of which Interstate 195 parallels and at which it ends. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (08/31/04).
A contextual view of the one-mile guide sign for Exit 36 along the Maine Turnpike. There are two interchanges along the short spur, both of which serve Saco. The next northbound interchange of Interstate 95 lies seven miles ahead at Scarborough. Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Interstate 195 departs Interstate 95 northbound via the Exit 36 trumpet interchange. Old Orchard Beach lies 3.8 miles to the east via Maine 5 (Saco Avenue). Saco itself is two miles to the southeast via U.S. 1 (Main Street). First photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (08/31/04); second photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Perspective from Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike south
Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) southbound at the Flag Pond Road over crossing and two-mile guide sign for Interstate 195 east (Exit 36). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Drawing to within one mile of the Exit 36 ramp departure to Interstate 195 east. Interstate 195 provides a direct route into downtown Saco from Interstate 95 southbound via U.S. 1 south & Maine 5 north (Main Street). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Continuing south to within one half mile of the trumpet interchange with Interstate 195 (Exit 36) on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) south. Interstate 195 serves Old Orchard Beach via Maine 5 (Saco Avenue) east and Ocean Park via Temple Avenue east beyond the freeway's eastern terminus. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Interstate 195 eastbound travelers depart Interstate 95 southbound at Exit 36. A toll plaza lies just east of the interchange and west of Exits 2A/B (U.S. 1 and Maine 5 south). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Eastern Terminus - Maine 5 - Saco, Maine
Perspective from Interstate 195 east
Beyond the Exit 2 cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 1 (Main Street) is this end advisory sign. The sign indicates that non-controlled access begins in one half mile. That is the location where Interstate 195 merges onto Maine 5 (Ocean Park Road / Saco Avenue) southbound toward Old Orchard Beach. First photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05); second photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (08/31/04).
The carriageways of Interstate 195 converge ahead of the intersection with Maine 5 (Ocean Park Road). Old Orchard Beach, Ocean Park, and the Atlantic coastline is approximately two miles to the east. Maine 5 (Saco Avenue) and Temple Avenue provide the main arteries to Old Orchard Beach and Ocean Park respectively. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
A new end Interstate 195 Maine shield was posted in 2004 during a freeway long sign replacement project. Maine 5 (Ocean Park Road) merges with the freeway ending directly and therefore there is no right-hand turn. Use the U.S. 1 interchange (Exit 2A) for Ocean Park Road between the end and Main Street. First photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05); second photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (08/31/04).
Perspective from Maine 5 north
Approaching the westbound beginning of Interstate 195 on Maine 5 (Ocean Park Road) westbound. The junction shield assembly lies at the corner of a residential street. Ahead Maine 5 turns left onto Ocean Park Road, a parallel alignment to Interstate 195 between U.S. 1 (Main Street) and the freeway beginning. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Guide sign proclaiming the beginning of Interstate 195 and it's primary function, the connection with the Maine Turnpike and U.S. 1 (Main Street). Maine 5 through traffic should take Interstate 195 west to Exit 2B. The state highway follows Ocean Park Road parallel to the freeway to a traffic light at Main Street adjacent to Exit 2. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
The first westbound Interstate 195 reassurance shield posted on the mainline. In the background is a guide sign for Exits 2A/B (U.S. 1 & Maine 5 south). Exit 1 of the freeway constitutes a partial cloverleaf interchange with Industrial Park Road. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
The first westbound off-ramp, Exit 2B to U.S. 1 north along Portland Road. U.S. 1 is a four lane divided highway throughout the Saco vicinity and continues in that fashion north to the city of Portland. Exit 2A loops onto U.S. 1 southbound ahead of its merge with Maine 5. The western terminus interchange with the Maine Turnpike is just 1.75 miles away. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).

Footnotes:

  1. Maine's Interstate System: An Investment in Safety, Mobility, and Prosperity by Maine Department of Transportation
  2. Bryant, Eric. Personal Email, "RE: interstate-guide: maine routes," July 26, 2007.

Page Updated August 7, 2007.