Maine State Route 26
Encyclopedia
State Route 26 is a 96.7 mile-long state highway
in southwestern Maine
. It was first commissioned in 1925, as part of the New England road marking system. Route 26 in Maine, as well as New Hampshire and the short stub in Vermont, covers the route of the old New England Interstate Route 26. In the state of Maine, Route 26 runs from Portland
in the southeast to the New Hampshire
border near Upton
, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 26.
. State route logs show its southern terminus at State Route 77
in the western end of the city center at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and State Street (southbound SR 77). From there it heads northeast along Cumberland Avenue, then turns north onto Washington Avenue. In the field, Route 26's southern end is signed at the intersection of Congress Street, Washington Avenue, and Mountfort Street in the eastern end of the city center one block south of the Cumberland Avenue intersection with Washington Avenue. From here, it follows Washington Avenue northward and joins with Interstate 295
and U.S. Route 1 over Tukey's Bridge
, splitting off from that Interstate immediately on the other side of the bridge to continue northwest on Washington Avenue. Route 100 joins at Allen Avenue, and the combined Routes 26 and 100 immediately angle northward onto Auburn Street and continue together as far as the town of Gray.
From Portland, Route 26 generally parallels Interstate 95
(the Maine Turnpike) as far as Gray where it intersects with State Routes 115, 4, and US Route 202 and State Route 100 again splits off. The Turnpike begins to turn northeast at Gray, as does Route 100, but Route 26 continues north and then northwest. It crosses into New Hampshire near Upton. In Maine, Route 26 passes through Cumberland
, Androscoggin
and Oxford
Counties.
and New Gloucester
. The existing roadway ran northward from Gray, hugging the Sabbathday Lake and then passed directly through the Shaker Village en route to New Gloucester, along current Shaker Road and Sabbathday Road. This, along with a second attempt in 1989, was rejected due to disagreement among the public and town officials of how the plan ought to be executed.
Plans were resurrected in 1996 with the formation of a Public Advisory Committee of thirteen members, composed of local citizens, local/regional government officials, and residents of the Shaker Village. Together, the PAC confirmed the existing deficencies of the road, in particular a section locally known as the "Seven Deadly Curves." This section of the road was notorious for hazardous driving conditions due to lack of shoulders and small lane widths, numerous tight corners, and greatly varied speeds among vehicles traveling along the road. Other deficiencies were also addresses, such as hazards to pedestrians, truck noise and excessive vehicular traffic passing through the Village, and storm/lake water quality concerns.
Several new alignments were proposed for the project, the eventual winner being a southern bypass of the Sabbathday Lake area combined with a northern bypass of the Shaker Village. Two new segments of roadway were to be constructed as part of this new bypass. Environmental clearance was obtained in November 1998, with construction completed by the fall of 2004.
The bypass begins north of Gray, where Shaker Road (Route 26) meets Sabbathday Road. Route 26 splits left along a new alignment which runs for about 2 miles. Truck lanes were added on uphill climbs to improve traffic flow, and connecting roads from Route 26 provide access to the Sabbathday Lake area. Upon passing west of the lake, Route 26 rejoins its old alignment along former Sabbathday Road, which now dead-ends at its north end. After a mile or so, Route 26 once again splits left of Shaker Road, which dead-ends, passing just west of the Village for approximately 2 miles, with connecting roads providing access to the Village. Truck lanes are present on this section of road as well. North of the village, Route 26 returns to its old alignment approximately 1 mile south of its junction with Route 122
in Poland
.
The Route 26 designation was removed from Shaker Road and Sabbathday Road, which now dead-end and do not directly connect to the bypass. The bypass is known as Maine Street and carries a speed limit of 55 MPH.
past the nearby turnpike exit before making a right-hand turn northward and running parallel to the turnpike on its opposite side until its other end where it rejoins Route 26 just south of the Gray-New Gloucester High School. In recognition of the heavy traffic flow of turnpike access, it is Route 26 which must yield at this junction, while traffic flow onto and from the new bypass Route 26A continues smoothly and unimpeded here.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in southwestern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It was first commissioned in 1925, as part of the New England road marking system. Route 26 in Maine, as well as New Hampshire and the short stub in Vermont, covers the route of the old New England Interstate Route 26. In the state of Maine, Route 26 runs from Portland
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
in the southeast to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
border near Upton
Upton, Maine
Upton is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 62 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:...
, where it continues as New Hampshire Route 26.
Route description
Route 26 begins in PortlandPortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. State route logs show its southern terminus at State Route 77
State Route 77 (Maine)
State Route 77 is a state highway in Cumberland County, Maine. It connects the cities of Portland and Scarborough, covering an approximate distance of .-Route description:Route 77 starts at Park Avenue, Formerly U.S...
in the western end of the city center at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and State Street (southbound SR 77). From there it heads northeast along Cumberland Avenue, then turns north onto Washington Avenue. In the field, Route 26's southern end is signed at the intersection of Congress Street, Washington Avenue, and Mountfort Street in the eastern end of the city center one block south of the Cumberland Avenue intersection with Washington Avenue. From here, it follows Washington Avenue northward and joins with Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (Maine)
Interstate 295 is a -long connector in the U.S. state of Maine from I-95 in Scarborough to I-95 in West Gardiner.-Route description:...
and U.S. Route 1 over Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge is a bridge connecting the neighborhoods of Munjoy Hill and East Deering in Portland, Maine. It is part of Interstate 295.-History:Several bridges by the same name have existed connecting the areas....
, splitting off from that Interstate immediately on the other side of the bridge to continue northwest on Washington Avenue. Route 100 joins at Allen Avenue, and the combined Routes 26 and 100 immediately angle northward onto Auburn Street and continue together as far as the town of Gray.
From Portland, Route 26 generally parallels Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
(the Maine Turnpike) as far as Gray where it intersects with State Routes 115, 4, and US Route 202 and State Route 100 again splits off. The Turnpike begins to turn northeast at Gray, as does Route 100, but Route 26 continues north and then northwest. It crosses into New Hampshire near Upton. In Maine, Route 26 passes through Cumberland
Cumberland County, Maine
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 281,674. Its county seat is Portland, and is the most populous of the sixteen Maine counties, as well as the most affluent. Cumberland County has the deepest and second largest body of water in the...
, Androscoggin
Androscoggin County, Maine
Androscoggin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the county's population was 107,702. Its county seat is Auburn...
and Oxford
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
Counties.
Sabbathday Lake/Shaker Village bypass
In 1988, the first attempt was made to modify the existing routing of a 5.25-mile stretch of Route 26 in the towns of GrayGray, Maine
Gray is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,820 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. Gray is home to regional headquarters for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and...
and New Gloucester
New Gloucester, Maine
New Gloucester is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, in the United States. It is home to the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, the last active Shaker Village in the U.S...
. The existing roadway ran northward from Gray, hugging the Sabbathday Lake and then passed directly through the Shaker Village en route to New Gloucester, along current Shaker Road and Sabbathday Road. This, along with a second attempt in 1989, was rejected due to disagreement among the public and town officials of how the plan ought to be executed.
Plans were resurrected in 1996 with the formation of a Public Advisory Committee of thirteen members, composed of local citizens, local/regional government officials, and residents of the Shaker Village. Together, the PAC confirmed the existing deficencies of the road, in particular a section locally known as the "Seven Deadly Curves." This section of the road was notorious for hazardous driving conditions due to lack of shoulders and small lane widths, numerous tight corners, and greatly varied speeds among vehicles traveling along the road. Other deficiencies were also addresses, such as hazards to pedestrians, truck noise and excessive vehicular traffic passing through the Village, and storm/lake water quality concerns.
Several new alignments were proposed for the project, the eventual winner being a southern bypass of the Sabbathday Lake area combined with a northern bypass of the Shaker Village. Two new segments of roadway were to be constructed as part of this new bypass. Environmental clearance was obtained in November 1998, with construction completed by the fall of 2004.
The bypass begins north of Gray, where Shaker Road (Route 26) meets Sabbathday Road. Route 26 splits left along a new alignment which runs for about 2 miles. Truck lanes were added on uphill climbs to improve traffic flow, and connecting roads from Route 26 provide access to the Sabbathday Lake area. Upon passing west of the lake, Route 26 rejoins its old alignment along former Sabbathday Road, which now dead-ends at its north end. After a mile or so, Route 26 once again splits left of Shaker Road, which dead-ends, passing just west of the Village for approximately 2 miles, with connecting roads providing access to the Village. Truck lanes are present on this section of road as well. North of the village, Route 26 returns to its old alignment approximately 1 mile south of its junction with Route 122
Maine State Route 122
State Route 122 is a short state highway in southern Maine. It runs west to east, from State Route 26 in Poland to U.S. Route 202/State Route 4/State Route 100 in Auburn.-Route description:...
in Poland
Poland, Maine
Poland is a town in Androscoggin County, Maine, United States. The population was 4,866 at the 2000 census. Home to Range Ponds State Park, Poland is a historic resort area...
.
The Route 26 designation was removed from Shaker Road and Sabbathday Road, which now dead-end and do not directly connect to the bypass. The bypass is known as Maine Street and carries a speed limit of 55 MPH.
Route 26A bypass
On November 16, 2006, a new 1.6-mile bypass, Route 26A, was completed and put into service to alleviate congestion in the center of Gray village where State Routes 26, 100, 115, 4, and U.S. Route 202 intersect. Much of the traffic congestion at this village center intersection was due to traffic on Route 26 being forced to pass through this central intersection when accessing and leaving the nearby I-95 Maine Turnpike Exit 63. One end of Route 26A begins at this intersection when it branches from Route 26 and runs west along U.S. Route 202U.S. Route 202
U.S. Route 202 is a highway stretching from Delaware to Maine, also passing through the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire....
past the nearby turnpike exit before making a right-hand turn northward and running parallel to the turnpike on its opposite side until its other end where it rejoins Route 26 just south of the Gray-New Gloucester High School. In recognition of the heavy traffic flow of turnpike access, it is Route 26 which must yield at this junction, while traffic flow onto and from the new bypass Route 26A continues smoothly and unimpeded here.