Interstate 395 Maine

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

An east-west freeway from U.S. 1A to U.S. 2 and Interstate 95 constitutes the routing of Interstate 395. The highway sees several interchanges serving the downtown Bangor and Brewer municipal areas. The 3-digit Interstate is the last Interstate 95 northbound encounters on its trek to New Brunswick.

High Priority Corridor

Interstate 395 in Maine is part of High Priority Corridor 50: East-West Corridor from Watertown to Calais in its entirety.

Future Aspirations

Interstate 395 is being studied for a possible extension east to connect with Maine 9/The Airline to improve travel between Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island). According to preliminary reports, there are two possible corridors. The Maine Department of Transportation (from April 2004) supports the first corridor, which entails an extension of Interstate 395 that would be approximately two miles long, extending Interstate 395 east along the southern side of Alternate U.S. 1 to Holden. From Holden, the corridor would turn northward through mostly unpopulated areas until meeting Maine 9 near East Eddington, bypassing the town, and rejoining Maine 9 just west of Clifton. This segment (from Holden to Clifton) would not necessarily be constructed to Interstate standards immediately, but may be upgraded as traffic conditions warrant. An alternative route of this corridor would also extend Interstate 395, but it would take Interstate 395 from its current Wilson Street junction and follow the Holden-Brewer town lines until entering Eddington and connecting with a rebuilt Maine 9. Once the preliminary studies are complete, a corridor will be chosen for design and construction.¹

History

Interstate 395, also known as the "Bangor Industrial Spur," was opened in stages. The first section opened between Main Street to Odlin Road in 1959. The extension from Bangor to Brewer opened to traffic in 1986.²

Highway Guides

• Interstate 395 Maine

	Western Terminus - Interstate 95 - Bangor, Maine Perspective from Interstate 395 west The first sign of Interstate 395's westbound conclusion resides at the Penobscot River crossing between Brewer and Bangor. Interchange line both banks of the river for interstate 395. Exit 4 joins the freeway with Maine 15 (South Main Street) to the east and Exit 3 represents the junction with U.S. 202 south, U.S. 1A, and Maine 9 (Main Street) to the west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Two miles east of the junction with Interstate 95 on Interstate 395 west at Exit 3. Exit 3 serves downtown Bangor and East Hampden via U.S. 1A and Maine 9 (Main Street). U.S. 202 begins in Bangor and travels south along Main Street to Interstate 395. The federal highway merges onto westbound for a short distance to Exit 2. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Interstate 395 westbound at the Exit 2 trumpet interchange with U.S. 202 south. U.S. 202 ventures south from the freeway to Hampden. Interstate 395 meanwhile enters its final mile. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Interests to Bangor International Airport and Maine 15 (Broadway) north to Dover-Foxcroft should use Exit 1B onto Interstate 95 north from Interstate 395 west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Exit 1B departs Interstate 395 westbound for Interstate 95 and Maine 15 north to Bangor International Airport and Orono. Orono, home to the University of Maine, lies ten miles to the north. Exit 184 with Maine 222 (Union Street) serves leads to the airport terminal. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Westbound at the Exit 1A loop ramp onto Interstate 95 southbound on Interstate 395 west. Interstate 95 southbound turns west from Bangor 32 miles to Pittsfield and south 51 miles to Waterville. Motorists continuing west default into the U.S. 2 and Maine 10 intersection. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). End Interstate 395 shield posted beyond the full-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 95. In the background is the signalized intersection with U.S. 2 and Maine 100 (Odlin Road and Outer Hammond Street). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). U.S. 2 and Maine 100 turn west from Odlin Road and Bangor onto Outer Hammond Street to Hermon Center. The tandem continue west along the Interstate 95 corridor to their split at Newport. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Perspective from Interstate 395 east U.S. 2 and Maine 100 (Outer Hammond Street) eastbound at the busy intersection with Odlin Road and the eastbound beginning of Interstate 395. Odlin Road enters the scene from Cold Brook Road and Ammo Industrial Park to the right. U.S. 2 and Maine 100 eastbound turn onto Odlin Road for Hammond Street at Interstate 95 (Exit 183) to the left. Outer Hammond Street transitions into Interstate 395 beyond the traffic signals ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Exit 1A quickly departs Interstate 395 eastbound for Interstate 95 south to Newport, Waterville, Augusta, and Portland. Maine 15 merges onto Interstate 395 eastbound from the Interstate 95 south ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Interstate 395 eastbound at the Exit 1B loop ramp onto Interstate 95 and Maine 15 north. Maine 15 follows Interstate 95 south from Exit 185 to Exit 182, and Interstate 395 from Exit 1 to Exit 4, thus bypassing downtown Bangor. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Perspective from Interstate 95 north A mixture of shields accompany Interstate 395 on Exit 182 guide signs along Interstate 95 northbound. Interstate 395 provides connections to U.S. 2 and Maine 100 (Odlin Road and Outer Hammond Street) to the west and U.S. 1A and Maine 9 to the east. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). The eastbound off-ramp to Interstate 395 (Exit 182A) provides a direct route to U.S. 1A (Main Road) east of Bangor and Brewer. U.S. 1A travels southeast 28 miles from Bangor to Ellsworth and junction U.S. 1. Ellsworth is the gateway to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Calais lies along U.S. 1 at the St. Croix River across from St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Interstate 95 northbound at the Exit 182A ramp departure onto Interstate 395 east & Maine 15 south. Exit 182B loops onto Interstate 395 west ahead of its intersection with U.S. 2 and Maine 100. Maine 9 meets the freeway at Exit 3 south of downtown Bangor. The state highway travels east from Brewer 90 miles to U.S. 1 at a point seven miles west of Calais. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (10/17/04). Perspective from Interstate 95 south Southbound Interstate 95 reaches Exit 182B, Junction Maine 100 west to U.S. 2 to Hermon. The next exit along southbound is Exit 182A, Junction Interstate 395 east and Maine 15 south to Bangor and Junction Alternate U.S. 1 and Maine 9. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (07/06). Shortly thereafter, southbound Interstate 95 meets Interstate 395 east at Exit 182A. Use Interstate 395 east and Maine 15 south to Bangor and Junction Alternate U.S. 1 and Maine 9. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (07/06). Eastern Terminus - Alternate U.S. 1 - Brewer, Maine Perspective from Interstate 395 Eastbound Interstate 395 travels east from Exit 5 (Parkway South) toward its final interchange with U.S. 1A (Main Road). An end sign resides along the freeway one mile from the Exit 6A trumpet interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Traffic partitions into single-lane off-ramps to U.S. 1A (Main Road) south to Ellsworth (junction U.S. 1) and Bar Harbor and U.S. 1A (Wilson Street) north to downtown Brewer. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). The Exit 6A/B split into ramps for U.S. 1A north and south. U.S. 1A intersects Maine 46 (Lower Dedham Road / Kidder Hill Road) in 5.6 miles at East Holden. From there the federal highway enters Hancock County on the 23-mile drive to junction U.S. 1 in Ellsworth. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Perspective from U.S. 1A Southbound U.S. 1A (Main Road) northbound on the approach to junction Interstate 395 west. U.S. 1A constitutes a lengthy loop to Bangor from U.S. 1 at Ellsworth to U.S. 1 at Stockton Springs. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). Motorists bound for Bangor should use Interstate 395 westbound in lieu of U.S. 1A (Wilson Street) through downtown Brewer. U.S. 1A passes over a railroad line ahead of the ramp split for the freeway beginning. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05). U.S. 1A (Main Road) northbound at the split with Interstate 395 westbound. Interstate 395 provides a high-speed route to Interstate 95 five miles to the west. The freeway bypasses both Brewer and Bangor to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05) and Chris Elbert (07/06). Shield assembly posted at the gore point of U.S. 1A (Main Road) north at Interstate 395 west. U.S. 1A follows Wilson Street through downtown Brewer to Summer Street (U.S. 202) in downtown Bangor. From there U.S. 1A & 202 travel south along Main Street to meet Interstate 395 at Exit 3. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman and Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).

Sources:

1. Study of planned connector almost done, Bangor Press-Herald, 12/12/04
2. Maine's Interstate System: An Investment in Safety, Mobility, and Prosperity by Maine Department of Transportation

Page Updated August 7, 2007.