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Interstate 495 Maine

Routing

Effective January 5, 2004, Interstate 495 was commissioned as an unsigned route along the Falmouth Spur, a short freeway connecting Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike with Interstate 295 in Falmouth, north of Portland.

The state of Maine posted a proclamation sign on Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) northbound near the New Hampshire state line advising motorists of the redesignation of Interstates 95, 295, and 495 and exit renumbering of the Maine Interstate system. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (08/31/04).

History

In 1955, the Falmouth Spur segment of the Maine Turnpike opened (the Falmouth Spur was incorporated into Interstate 95 from 1956 until 2004; today it is unsigned Interstate 495 and acts as a connector between Interstate 95 and Interstate 295 north of Portland).3

A previous version of Interstate 495 in Maine was christened in the late 1980s. This older version of Interstate 495 traveled the Maine Turnpike from metro Portland north to Augusta along a previously unassigned stretch of highway. Interstate 95 meanwhile departed from the Turnpike via the Falmouth Spur to an untolled freeway between Falmouth and Gardiner.

On January 5, 2004, the Maine Department of Transportation switched the designations of Interstate 95, 295, and 495 in Maine between Portland and Gardiner. This proposal to change the designation of Interstate 95, Interstate 295, and Interstate 495 was approved by AASHTO on October 11, 2002. This project relocated Interstate 95 onto the entire Maine Turnpike roadway between Kittery and Augusta. Coinciding with this relocation, Interstate 295 was extended northward along the Falmouth to Gardiner alignment of old Interstate 95. The short Falmouth Spur between the two highways will be considered a "ramp". This ramp will be legislatively known as Interstate 495, but receive no signage alluding to that fact. Instead the ramp will be signed with Interstate 95 and 295 trailblazers respectively. The resigning process was completed by January 10th.1

Transition from Sequential to Mileage-Based Exit Numbering

The relocation of Interstate 495 also coincides with the renumbering of Interstate interchanges within the state of Maine from a sequential-based system to a mile based system. Maine will become the first New England state to utilize this more popular format. It is hoped to complete the exit renumbering project by May 15, 2004. Black and yellow signs posting the original exit numbers will accompany the new exit numbers for up to a year until motorists get used to the new convention.2

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Maine 4* Portland, Lewiston, Gardiner Interstate 95, Interstate 95
* Estimate based on Microsoft MapPoint. Prior to the rerouting on 1/5/04, I-495 was 50.47 miles per the October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List.

Western Terminus/
Former Southern Terminus - Interstate 95 - Portland, Maine
Perspective from Interstate 495/Falmouth Spur west
A toll plaza lies midway between the Interstate 495 end points for both directions of the Falmouth Spur. Two signs direct motorists into the appropriate lane for Interstate 95 north to Auburn, Lewiston, and Augusta and south to Portland, Kittery, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
The northbound sign features a three-digit sized shield for Interstate 95 in place over the former Interstate 495 shield. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).

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A trumpet interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur) and the Maine Turnpike mainline (Interstate 95). Pictured here is the guide sign posted at the north and southbound ramp partition. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Interstate 95 southbound travels seven miles to South Portland off-ramp and 56 miles to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Northbound travelers leave the Portland area 25 miles to Auburn and 30 miles to Lewiston. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
Perspective from Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike south
Exit 9 for the Falmouth Spur (unsigned Interstate 495) departs the Maine Turnpike (Interstate 95) southbound mainline. Former Interstate 495 ended at this interchange rather discreetly with no end shield or sign in place. The next southbound interchange lies four miles ahead at Exit 8/Maine 25 - Brighton Avenue. Three interchanges serve Maine's largest city, Portland, from Interstate 95. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Perspective from Interstate 95/Maine Turnpike north
Diagrammatical overhead featuring what was the first sign of the northbound beginning of Interstate 495. The Maine Turnpike continues well inland to Auburn and Lewiston 28 miles to the north. The terminus of the tolled route is at the capital city of Augusta 56 miles away. Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
Interstate 95 northbound at the western terminus of unsigned Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur). Sign updates include the placement of a 3di-width Interstate 95 shield over the former Interstate 495 shield and an Interstate 295 trailblazer on the former Exit 9/new Exit 52 panel. The control cities of Interstate 495 include Falmouth, a northern suburb of Portland, and Freeport, a town midway between Portland and Brunswick along U.S. 1.Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
What was the first northbound Interstate 495 reassurance shield posted. Ahead is the Exit 53 trumpet interchange with Maine 26 and 100 (Gray Road). Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 295 - Falmouth, Maine
Perspective from Interstate 495 east
Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur) eastbound at the Maine 9 (Middle Road) overpass on the approach to junction Interstate 295 and U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway). The Falmouth Spur ends at ramps onto Interstate 295 north to Brunswick and U.S. 1 north and south. Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
The left-hand lane of Interstate 495 eastbound defaults onto U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) northbound to Falmouth Foreside and Cumberland Foreside. The right-hand lane partitions into ramps onto Interstate 295 north and U.S. 1 south. Photo taken by Gary S. Peterson (02/03).
A loop ramp directly ties into Interstate 295 northbound for travel interests to Freeport, Brunswick, Bath, and Augusta. A second ramp merges onto U.S. 1 southbound ahead of its intersection with Bucknam Road. Bucknam Road interchanges with Interstate 295 just south of the Falmouth Spur between U.S. 1 and Maine 9 (Middle Road). Interests to Interstate 295 south for Portland should use the Bucknam Road southbound freeway on-ramp. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Perspective from U.S. 1 north
U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) northbound at the east end of Bucknam Road. Bucknam Road travels west from U.S. 1 to Interstate 295 (Exit 10) and Maine 9 (Middle Road). The junction provides the connection between Interstate 495 east and Interstate 295 south. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Shield and guide sign assembly posted at the Interstate 495 westbound gore point on U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway) northbound. The trumpet interchange facilitates the movements from Interstate 295 north to Interstate 495 westbound as there is no direct ramp between the two limited access highways. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Perspective from U.S. 1 south
Southbound U.S. 1 at the unsigned westbound beginning of Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur). An Interstate 95 trailblazer is posted in lieu of an Interstate 495 shield for the four mile drive to the Maine Turnpike mainline. Photo taken by Sheila Schumacher (05/20/04).
Perspective from Interstate 295 north
Approaching unsigned Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur) northbound on Interstate 295 north. The Falmouth Spur sees a partial interchange with Interstate 295 consisting of movements between Interstate 495 east and Interstate 295 north and Interstate 295 south and Interstate 495 west. Therefore to make the connection onto the Falmouth Spur west, northbound motorists must depart via Exit 10 and take Bucknam Road east to U.S. 1 north. U.S. 1 sees a trumpet interchange with the Falmouth Spur nearby. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
A folded-diamond interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 295 and Bucknam Road at Exit 10. Bucknam Road travels east-west between Maine 9 (Middle Road) and U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Exit 10 leaves Interstate 295 northbound for Bucknam Road. The westbound beginning of Interstate 495 departs U.S. 1 northbound north of its intersection with Bucknam Road. Maine 9 meanwhile parallels Interstate 295 to the west from Portland to Cumberland. Falmouth resides south of Bucknam Road along U.S. 1 (Blue Star Memorial Highway). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Perspective from Interstate 295 south
Two-mile diagrammatical sign posted on Interstate 295 southbound for the Falmouth Spur (Exit 11) and Bucknam Road (Exit 10) interchanges. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Signs for the Falmouth Spur (unsigned Interstate 495) use generic control points for the connection to the Maine Turnpike mainline. Featured are Points South, N.H., and Mass. Instead Kittery, Portsmouth, and Boston should be used. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).
One mile north of the Falmouth Spur (unsigned Interstate 495) westbound off-ramp on Interstate 295 south. The Falmouth Spur provides a direct connection to the Maine Turnpike mainline (Interstate 95) four miles to the west. Interstate 295 continues south four miles into downtown Portland. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
The Falmouth Spur is a part of the Maine Turnpike system. The unsigned Interstate 495 includes a toll plaza midway between its endpoints at Interstate 295 and 95. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Interstate 295 southbound at the westbound beginning of Interstate 495 (Falmouth Spur) west. Interstate 495 ends at the Maine Turnpike south of the Maine 100 (Auburn Street) exit and north of the Maine 25 (Main Street) exit. Portsmouth, New Hampshire lies 60 miles to the southwest via Interstate 95. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Former Northern Terminus - Interstate 95 - West Gardiner, Maine
Perspective from Interstate 95 (Maine Turnpike) north
Historic Interstate 495 northbound approaching its merge with historic Interstate 95. This is now the Interstate 95 northbound approach to Interstate 295 (Exit 102). Exit 102 consists of a northbound off-ramp to Maine 9 & 126 and a southbound loop ramp onto Interstate 95 from Lewiston Road. Interstate 295 northbound merges onto Interstate 95 one half mile ahead via a partial "Y" interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/27/05).
Perspective from Interstate 95 south
The southbound split of Interstate 95 and 295 at Exit 103 of the Maine Turnpike. This was the split of Interstate 495 and 95. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman & Carter Buchanan (06/28/05).

Footnotes:

  1. "Interstate I-95 Redesignation & Re-numbering Information," Maine Department of Transportation.
  2. "Highway switcheroo slated for I-95, I-495 and I-295," The Times Record News. December 24, 2003.
  3. Maine's Interstate System: An Investment in Safety, Mobility, and Prosperity by Maine Department of Transportation

Page Updated August 7, 2007.