Interstate 395 Maine

Interstate 395 Maine
Bangor, ME ↔ Brewer, ME•4.77 miles

Overview

The northernmost branch of I-95, Interstate 395 constitutes a cross town route from Bangor International Airport (BGR), U.S. 2 (Hammond Street) and Interstate 95 east to Brewer and U.S. 1A (Wilson Street). The freeway provides access to Downtown Bangor and the Brewer city center in addition to a trucking corridor east to U.S. 1A and Route 9.

Mileage by State

Maine4.94 mi

Data Sources

MaineDOT Map Viewer. https://www1.maine.gov/mdot/mapviewer/

I-395/Route 9 connector

A study was conducted in 1997 by MaineDOT and the Maine State Planning Office (SPO) for the development of an east-west roadway across the state to link the Canadian Maritime Provinces with the trade markets of Quebec and Ontario. Results of the "A Technical Report on An East-West Highway in Maine" were announced by Governor Angus King on October 6, 1999. They outlined a four part strategy for improving the east to west link in Maine. Part 2 of the report identified a new limited access roadway connecting Interstate 395 in Brewer with Route 9 in the Eddington area. MaineDOT followed with preparation of an environmental assessment (EA) for the I-395/Route 9 Study in 2000.1

The I-395/Route 9 Transportation Study EA transitioned into a full environmental impact statement on October 11, 2005 due to potential wetland impacts. A Draft Environmental Impact Statement was released for the proposed route in March 2012. It included four alternatives including a no-build option. MaineDOT and the FHWA identified Alternative 2B-2 as the Preferred Alternative. 2B-2 consists of a route running northeast from a reconfigured interchange with U.S. 1A (Wilson Street) along the Bangor Hydro-Electric Company utility easement to Route 9 at a T intersection west of Chemo Pond Road. The connector outlines a controlled access highway with two lanes built within a 200 foot right of way.1 The corridor includes bridges Eastern Avenue and Mann Hill Road over the connector and underpasses for Lambert Road and Levenseller Road. No access points between U.S. 1A and Route 9 are included in the alternative.2

The I-395/Route 9 connector aims to reduce truck traffic in Brewer, provide a bypass for Route 9 traffic around Downtown Brewer and Bangor and improve traffic safety. Estimated to cost $61 million, the I-395/Route 9 connector moved forward during the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System meeting held on March 26, 2016. Approval given a new three year plan provided $250,000 to prepare preliminary engineering and right of way documents from the $57 million in regional road project funding. Opponents to the connector, including Brewer City Council, Holden Town Council and some community leaders and residents of Eddington, continued to voice opposition to the route.2

MaineDOT began construction on the Wilson Street bridge carrying Route 1A over Interstate 395 in August 2020. Costing $10.75 million, the project through November 1, 2021 is the first phase of the $104 million I-395/Route 9 Connector.3 Final design work on the Connector continued through Fall 2020.

The bid for construction of the Route 9/I-395 Connector project was awarded on January 3, 2022. Initial construction clearing the corridor was underway in Spring 2022.

High Priority Corridor

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

History

Route C-95 was designated for spur in Bangor in a map sent to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) from the Maine State Highway Commission on March 24, 1958. AASHO eventually approved the spur as Interstate 395 on November 10, 1958 as part of the statewide urban Interstate numerology. The route only extended as far east as U.S. 1A (Main Street).

Also known as the "Bangor Industrial Spur," Interstate 395 opened in stages. The first section was completed between Main Street to Odlin Road in 1959. The extension from Bangor to Brewer opened to traffic in 1986.4

Bangor inset – 1970 Maine Official Highway Map
Interstate 395 originally ended at a trumpet interchange with U.S. 1A/Route 9 (Main Street) on the south side of Bangor.
Bangor, ME - 1986
Interstate 395 under construction in 1986. Completion of I-395 across the Penobscot River preceded the relocation of SR 15 to bypass Downtown Bangor. The former route along Broadway became SR 15 Business.
Bangor, ME Map

East End U.S. 1A ‐ Brewer, ME

Interstate 395 East at U.S. 1A

I-395 east at US 1A - Brewer, ME

A trumpet interchange (Exit 6A) connects the end of Interstate 395 with U.S. 1A (Wilson Street) in one mile. Photo by Ian Ligget (04/15/16).

I-395 east at US 1A - Brewer, ME I-395 east at US 1A - Brewer, ME I-395 east at US 1A - Brewer, ME

U.S. 1A West at Interstate 395

US 1A west at I-395 - Brewer, ME

U.S. 1A (Main Road) rises to cross over an abandoned railroad line on the half mile approach to Interstate 395 west. U.S. 1A forms a long loop to Bangor from U.S. 1 at Ellsworth and Stockton Springs. Photo by Peter Johnson (09/27/19).

US 1A west at I-395 - Brewer, ME US 1A west at I-395 - Brewer, ME US 1A west at I-395 - Brewer, ME US 1A west at I-395 - Brewer, ME

U.S. 1A East at Interstate 195

US 1A east at I-395 - Brewer, ME

Shield assembly posted along U.S. 1A (Wilson Street) southeast at Interstate 395 west. Design of the I-395/Route 9 connector outlines reconfiguring the trumpet interchange here to a three quarter cloverleaf with a westbound ramp added to the Eastern Maine Healthcare facility. Photo by Ian Ligget (02/23/16).

West End Interstate 95 U.S. 2 Maine Route 15 Maine Route 100 ‐ Bangor, ME

Interstate 395 West at Interstate 95 U.S. 2 Maine Route 15 Maine Route 100

I-395 west at US 1A/202 - Brewer, ME

I-395 crosses the Penobscot River between Exit 4 to SR 15 (S Main Street) in Brewer and Exit 3 for U.S. 202 south, U.S. 1A and SR 9 (Main Street) in Bangor. Photo by Peter Johnson (09/27/19).

I-395 west at US 1A/202 - Brewer, ME I-395 west at US 1A/202 - Bangor, ME I-395/US 202 west split - Bangor, ME I-395 west at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-395 west at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-395 west at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-395 west at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-395 west at US 2 - Bangor, ME I-395 west at US 2 - Bangor, ME

U.S. 2 Maine Route 100 West at Interstate 395

US 2/SR 100 east at I-395 - Bangor, ME

U.S. 2 and SR 100 (Hammond Street) east approach the busy intersection with Odlin Road and Interstate 395 east. Photo by Ian Ligget (04/15/16).

US 2/SR 100 east at I-395 - Bangor, ME US 2/SR 100 east at I-395 - Bangor, ME US 2/SR 100 west at I-395 - Bangor, ME US 2/SR 100 west at I-395 - Bangor, ME

Interstate 395 East at Interstate 95 Maine Route 15

I-395 east at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME

Exit 1A quickly departs Interstate 395 eastbound for I-95 south to Newport, Waterville, Augusta and Portland. Photo by Ian Ligget (04/15/16).

I-395 east at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-395 east at I-95/SR 15 - Bangor, ME

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 395 Maine Route 15

I-95 north at I-395/SR 15 - Bangor, ME

A mixture of shields accompany Interstate 395 on Exit 182 guide signs along I-95 north. I-395 provides connections to U.S. 2 and SR 100 (Odlin Road / Hammond Street) to the west and U.S. 1A and SR 9 to the east. Photo by Ian Ligget (04/15/16).

I-95 north at I-395/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-95 north at I-395/SR 15 - Bangor, ME I-95 north at I-395/SR 15 - Bangor, ME

Interstate 95 Maine Route 15 South at Interstate 395

I-95/SR 15 south at I-395 - Bangor, ME

1.25 miles ahead of Interstate 395 (Bangor Industrial Spur) on I-95 south at Exit 183 for U.S. 2/SR 100 (Hammond Street). Photo by Ian Ligget (04/15/16).

I-95/SR 15 south at I-395 - Bangor, ME I-95/SR 15 south at I-395 - Bangor, ME I-95/SR 15 south at I-395 - Bangor, ME I-95/SR 15 south at I-395 - Bangor, ME

References

  1. I-395/Route 9 Transportation Study. Overview. Retrieved April 14, 2016 from http://www.i395-rt9-study.com/overview.html
  2. 'Hanging over us': Homeowners face uncertainty as I-395 plan ramps up. (2016, April 13). Bangor Daily News.
  3. Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT). (2020, August 14). Wilson Street Bridge Replacement Project Beginning in Brewer. [Press release].
  4. Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT). Maine's Interstate System: An Investment in Safety, Mobility, and Prosperity. Retrieved from http://www.state.me.us/mdot/interstate/index.php
Updated March 29, 2022