Contributed by Maine Turnpike Authority
Description
The Maine Turnpike opened on December 13, 1947 with four lanes from Kittery to Portland. The Maine Turnpike was the second toll super highway built in the United States. It cost 50 cents for a passenger car to travel the entire distance.
The road upkeep was paid for entirely with tolls without a burden to the taxpayers of Maine. The original road was supposed to go from Kittery to a point at or near Fort Kent. With the advent of the Eisenhower interstate system the road was built only to Augusta (completed in 1955).
In the 1940's it could take a day's time to travel Route 1 to coastal York County. Studies showed that widening or relocating Route 1, at the time southern Maine's major highway, was not feasible. Maine needed an express highway that would provide safe, speedy access to the state's towns and cities. And the Maine Turnpike did just that.
About This Item
- Title: Maine Turnpike gateway sign, Kittery, 1947
- Creator: R. Lewis
- Creation Date: 1947
- Subject Date: 1947
- Location: Kittery, York County, ME
- Media: Photographic print
- Dimensions: 20.3 cm x 25.4 cm
- Object Type: Image
Cross Reference Searches
Standardized Subject Headings
- Commuters--Maine--Photographs
- Kittery (Me.)
- Maine Turnpike Authority
- Maine Turnpike--Tolls
- Roads--Maine
Other Keywords
For more information about this item, contact:
Maine Turnpike Authority2360 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04102
(207) 482-8122
Website
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. No Permission is required to use the low-resolution watermarked image for educational use, or as allowed by the applicable copyright. For all other uses, permission is required.
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