Turnpike offering free coffee to overnight travelers during holidays

Turnpike urges late night holiday safety breaks

PORTLAND, Maine –  The Maine Turnpike Authority is encouraging holiday travelers to take break for safety and will treat Turnpike customers to a complimentary cup of coffee overnight Christmas Eve into Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. both nights.

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s website, its not always easy to tell when you’re too tired to drive.  Some signs that it’s time to pull over are:
·         Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids

·         Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs

·         Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes

·         Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
Many travelers will be traveling very late or very early during the holidays and to help them stay alert, complimentary coffee will be offered at all five Maine Turnpike Service Plazas from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.  Turnpike Service Plazas, operated by HMSHost, are located both northbound and southbound at mile 25 in Kennebunk, northbound and southbound at mile 58 in Gray and Cumberland respectively and at mile 102 in West Gardiner.
Maine State Police Troop G will be actively patrolling the Maine Turnpike to keep drivers and passengers safe throughout the holidays. Turnpike staff also works with state troopers to assist stranded motorists during daytime and overnight hours.

Turnpike Officials Expecting Busy Holiday Weekend

--Over 1 million vehicles predicted to travel the turnpike over July 4th weekend--

Portland, Maine - More than 1 million vehicles are anticipated to travel the Maine Turnpike over this Independence Day weekend, an increase of 4.5% from the weekend of the 4th last year.  Friday is expected to be the busiest day, with more than 315,000 vehicles; and about 270,000 vehicles are expected to travel the turnpike on Sunday.  From January through May 2015, the turnpike has seen a 4.3% growth in traffic compared to the same period in 2014.  May 2015 was the busiest May in Maine Turnpike history, and all signs point towards this to be the busiest 4th of July weekend the Maine Turnpike has seen in the past decade, and potentially busiest 4th of July weekend in Maine Turnpike history.

With heavy traffic expected on the road this holiday weekend, the MTA is urging motorists to drive safely and take proper precautions over the 4th. Here are some summer safety driving tips:

·         Move over.  It’s the law. – When you see emergency lights on the side of the road, you need to move over. If you can’t move over, you must slow down.  Don’t follow too closely behind vehicles with strobes flashing as they may need to pull over suddenly.

·         Summer is Construction Season in Maine - Make sure to be cautious while traveling through work zones.  Obey the posted speeds and watch out for stopped vehicles in front of you.  Stay alert, do not get distracted by the construction activity.

·         Summer Means Campers and Boats on Our Roads – If you cannot see an RV’s mirrors, then they can’t see you.  Travel at a safe distance. If you are hauling a boat or camper, make sure the lights are connected and working properly and always have a spare tire if using a trailer.

·         Watch out for Wildlife.  – Moose and deer are most active around dawn and dusk. Be especially alert after sunset because these dark colored animals can be very hard to see until they are right in front of you.  Know that moose are hard to spot because they are taller than deer and their eyes won’t reflect in your headlights.

ADVISORY: Overnight Stoppages at Mile 56 Northbound in Falmouth (6/3 and 6/4)‏

Up to 5-minute northbound stoppages from 8:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.

Falmouth, Maine - Northbound intermittent traffic stops of up to 5 minutes will occur for two nights on the Maine Turnpike at Mile 56 in Falmouth for repairs to both Piscataqua River Bridges.  A series of 5-minute stoppages will occur on the evenings of Wednesday, June 3, 2015 and Thursday, June 4, 2015, beginning at 8:00 p.m. and will last until 4:00 a.m. the following morning.  All work is weather dependent. 

Motorists should prepare for minor delays during the stoppages. Message boards will be in place to inform approaching travelers of stoppages, and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) broadcasts on 1610 AM will also be used to inform drivers. The Maine Turnpike Authority appreciates motorists’ patience and understanding during this construction. 

Visit MaineTurnpike.com for information on Turnpike projects and weekly construction advisories and lane closure reports. Motorists can also sign up to receive travel alerts by email and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for timely travel alerts and additional Turnpike information.

Exit 45 Southbound Ramps Scheduled To Be Closed the Night of May 27‏

--Motorists will need to seek alternate routes --

Portland, Maine - Southbound ramps at Exit 45 of the Maine Turnpike – being the South Portland/Maine Mall exit - will be closed for one night next week to allow contractors to safely commence work to improve the railing system of the bridge passing over the Turnpike.   The ramp closures are being timed to minimize traffic impacts.

More specifically, the southbound ramp off the Turnpike at Exit 45 is scheduled to be closed from 7:30pm on Wednesday, May 27th until 5:30am the following Thursday morning.  Motorists traveling south on the Turnpike are advised to use Turnpike Exit 46 (Jetport) or seek other routes.  On the same night, the southbound on ramp at Exit 45 is scheduled to be closed from 9:30pm on Wednesday until 5:30am the following Thursday morning.  Motorists seeking to get onto the Turnpike heading south who normally use Exit 45 are advised to use I-295, Turnpike Exits 42 or 46, or other alternative routes.  Motorists heading north on the Turnpike will be unaffected by this work.


This work is weather dependent.  If the weather is inclement on Wednesday evening, the work will be scheduled to start at the same times on the next evening, Thursday May 28.  This bridge work is being performed by CPM Contractors of Freeport, Maine. The project will last until August and will likely require one or two more nighttime ramp closures.  Notice of those additional closures will be provided.


Visit MaineTurnpike.com for information on Turnpike projects and weekly construction advisories and lane closure reports. Motorists can also sign up to receive travel alerts by email and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for timely travel alerts and additional Turnpike information.

Big Jump in Traffic Expected on Turnpike Memorial Day Weekend

--Motorists urged to practice safe driving with increased traffic on roadways --

Portland, Maine - Memorial Day weekend marks the kickoff to summer vacation season in Maine.  Maine Turnpike Authority expects it to be one of its busiest weekends in years.  More than 890,000 vehicles are anticipated to travel the Maine Turnpike over this Memorial Day weekend, an increase of 5.2% from Memorial Day weekend last year.  Friday is expected to be the busiest day, with more than 294,000 vehicles; and about 210,000 vehicles are expected to travel the turnpike on Saturday.. From January through April 2015, the turnpike has seen a 3.12% growth in traffic compared to the same period in 2014. 

With heavy traffic expected on the road this holiday weekend, the MTA is urging motorists to drive safely and take proper precautions during the summer vacation season.  Here are some summer safety driving tips:

·         Buckle up.  Every Trip.  Every Time. - Almost half of Maine’s recent highway deaths involved

Turnpike Urges Thanksgiving Travelers to Drive Safely During Winter Storm

Heaviest Snowfall Predicted Between 1 PM Wednesday and 7 AM Thursday

Portland, Maine - The Maine Turnpike urges those whose Thanksgiving plans include driving tomorrow to be cautious, leave additional time, and if possible, modify their travel schedule to avoid the worst of the winter storm.  Weather experts are indicating a substantial winter storm will arrive Wednesday afternoon and continue through Thursday morning, which could leave 6 to 14 inches of snow accumulations across the state.  The heaviest snowfall is predicted between 1:00 PM on Wednesday through 7:00 AM on Thursday.

Turnpike maintenance crews are prepared and will be ready when the storm arrives.  “Our crews have been working for the past month to get plows ready for winter,” said Director of Highway Maintenance, Bill Wells,  “We’ve had a few plowable events already this month, so we’re ready to go.”

Flashing 45 mph signs and Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) broadcasts on 1610 AM will be used to inform drivers of reductions to the speed limit during the storm. Visit MaineTurnpike.com to sign up to receive travel alerts by email and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for timely travel alerts and additional Turnpike information.

TRAVEL ADVISORY: Multiple Construction Projects on Turnpike’s Northern End This Week‏

Augusta Area Turnpike Travelers Should Prepare for Possible Delays 

PORTLAND, Maine – The Maine Turnpike Authority is alerting travelers on the northern section of the
Turnpike, between Exit 103 in Gardiner to Exit 109 in Augusta, to multiple construction projects taking place this week along the mainline. Nighttime paving will occur northbound between Exit 103 and Exit 109 during the week of June 23rd. Limited daytime lane closures will occur for drainage repairs and crack sealing. These closures should not impact traffic as much as milling or paving as it does not require pushing traffic onto the shoulder of the road. However, depending on traffic volume Monday morning, travelers could experience some delays.

Additional daytime lane closures will be in effect for construction work at the Litchfield Road Bridge located

Work Begins on Exit 80 Interchange Project in Lewiston

—Weekday blasting operations to start next week—
Lewiston, Maine - The Maine Turnpike Authority has begun mobilizing crews and safety equipment for a project to construct a new interchange that will replace the existing Lewiston Exit 80 Turnpike Interchange and replace both bridges which carry Turnpike traffic over Alfred Plourde Parkway. Work will take place during daylight hours, Monday through Friday, with some occasional weekend and night work, if necessary.

The project, scheduled for completion in 2017, will redesign the interchange at its current location to improve traffic operations, accommodate long-term traffic projections and create consistency with existing and planned development in the area. The project also realigns the four on-and-off-ramps into one intersection instead of two. The new interchange has been designed as a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI). It will be the first SPUI interchange design in Maine.

Construction work on the project will be completed in three phases. Each phase includes specific work and advance notification will be sent for each phase of construction, including planned traffic impacts. More detailed project information can be found online at www.MaineTurnpike.com

Phase One work, which has started, includes the following:

·        Redesigning the four on-and-off ramps, including construction of a new northbound on-ramp

·        Projected traffic stops and temporary closures of the on-and-off ramps will take place intermittently throughout the duration of project construction for the safety of crews and motorists.

·        In addition to the intermittent ramp closures, it will be necessary to implement several long-term full ramp closures, which will require traffic to take alternate routes to and from the interchange. Long-term closures include:

1.   The northbound off-ramp exiting the Turnpike (6 days in late July).

2.   The southbound off-ramp exiting the Turnpike (4 days in August).

3.   The southbound on-ramp entering the Turnpike (14 days in September)

·        Drilling and blasting areas of rock ledge will be necessary to construct the new northbound on-ramp. Blasting operations are scheduled to take place up to twice a day, weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., for up to four months. Traffic stops of up to 8 minutes on the Turnpike and Alfred Plourde Parkway can be expected during blasting, which is scheduled to commence next week, weather permitting.

Phase Two project construction is scheduled to begin in late 2014 and includes:

·        Complete replacement of both northbound and southbound bridges which carry Turnpike traffic over Alfred Plourde Parkway.

·        Median crossovers will be constructed and result in one-lane traffic in both directions over the northbound bridge while the southbound bridge is demolished and rebuilt in 2015.

·        In 2016, traffic in both directions will be diverted to one-lane over the new southbound bridge while the northbound bridge is demolished and rebuilt.

Phase Three project construction includes construction to align the four interchange ramps to a newly built traffic signal intersection under the new bridges

The Maine Turnpike urges all motorists to be alert, watch for construction signs and warnings and slow speeds to posted limits when approaching and traveling through construction areas.

R.J. Grondin & Sons (Gorham, ME) is the primary contractor for Phase One of the project with a contract cost of $5.1 million. The total Exit 80 Interchange Project cost is estimated at approximately $15.5 million.

The project was developed by the Maine Turnpike Authority in close collaboration with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) and the City of Lewiston.

Visit MaineTurnpike.com for more information on Turnpike projects and weekly construction advisories and lane closure reports. Motorists can also sign up to receive travel alerts by email and follow us on Facebook or Twitter for timely travel alerts and additional Turnpike information. For more information on this interchange project, please contact Dan Morin, Maine Turnpike Public Relations, at (207) 482-8154 and DMorin@MaineTurnpike.com, or Erin Courtney, at (207) 482-8119 and ECourtney@MaineTurnpike.com.

Tractor-Trailer Fire

Here's the aftermath of the overnight tractor-trailer fire southbound near the the mile 67 New Gloucester toll plaza. The trailer was filed with flyers which probably helped build the blaze just a little.

TRAFFIC ALERT: A Motor vehicle rollover at mile 29 south in Arundel on 95

TRAFFIC ALERT: A Motor vehicle rollover at mile 29 south in Arundel on 95 has slowed traffic in the southbound lane.  Please use caution approaching that area.

Traffic Alert: Tractor Trailer vs. Plow Truck Crash Near Exit 8 Maine Turnpike

Motorists traveling Southbound on the Maine Turnpike are being advised of a motor vehicle crash. The crash occurred between Exit 48 in Portland  and Exit 47 in Portland . Motorists should expect Moderate delays between Exit 48 in Portland  and Exit 47 in Portland 

Additional Information:
Tractor Trailer vs. plow truck crash just south of Exit 48 entering ramp southbound.  The passing lane is completely blocked.  The right lane is partially blocked by debris, traffic is passing by slowly in the breakdown lane.  Use caution.

Travel Alert: Rollover Mile 28 Maine Turnpike.

Maine Turnpike Authority Roports
Rollover at mile 28 northbound (Arundel). Left lane blocked. Use caution on approach. Please slow speeds and drive safely in snow.

Travel grinding to a halt ahead of the incoming blizzard.

Many flights at the Portland Jetport are Cancelled.
I 295 is still closed after a 19 care pile up near mile 12.
I 295 and the Maine Turnpike have reduced speeds to 45.

Road conditions are deteriorating rapidly! If you don not need to drive don't!

Road conditions are deteriorating rapidly! If you don not need to drive don't!
Speed on the Maine Turnpike have been reduced to 45
 
I-295 southbound: Road closed.
between Exit 10: Bucknam Road; US 1 and Exit 11: Falmouth Spur (near Falmouth). The road is closed due to a multi vehicle accident.

Speed on 295 is also reduced to 45

TRAVEL ALERT: Maine Turnpike Speeds Reduced

Time: 6:06 AM
Date: 1/16/2013
At the request of the Maine State Police, speed limits on the Maine Turnpike from the beginning of the Maine Turnpike in Kittery at mile 2 to the New Gloucester Barrier Toll at Mile 67 have been reduced to 45 MPH due to snow

TRAVEL ALERT: Maine Turnpike Speed Reduced To 45

Time: 7:27 AM
Date: 1/6/2013
At the request of the Maine State Police, speed limits on the Maine Turnpike from the beginning of the Maine Turnpike in Kittery at mile 2 to Exit 53 in Falmouth have been reduced to 45 MPH due to snow

Travel Alert: VEHICLE ROLLED OVER ON IT'S SIDE AT MILE 19 NORTH APPROACH WITH CAUTION MAINE TURNPIKE

Time: 3:17 PM
Date: 12/29/2012
Motorists traveling Northbound on the Maine Turnpike are being advised of a motor vehicle crash. The crash occurred between Exit 7 in York  and Exit 19 in Wells . Motorists should expect Minor delays between Exit 7 in York  and Exit 19 in Wells

Travel Alert: Turnpike speed reduced to 45MPH

At the request of the Maine State Police, speed limits on the Maine Turnpike from the beginning of the Maine Turnpike in Kittery at mile 2 to the end of the Maine Turnpike at Mile 109 have been reduced to 45 MPH due to snow.

Maine Winter Storm Travel Advisory

10:00 AM Conditions Maine turnpike Gray.

Travel conditions around the state are very bad.  Speed on the Maine Turnpike have been reduced to 45 MPH. with snow and ice on most roads. If you do not need to travel today stay home!

Exit 48 Southbound Off-Ramp Closing Wednesday Overnight

Exit 48 Southbound Off-Ramp Closing Wednesday Overnight
Ramp Repairs Due to Heavy Rain to Close Riverside St-Larrabee Road Exit


PORTLAND, Maine – On Wednesday evening, June 6, 2012, at 6:00 p.m., the Maine Turnpike will be closing the Exit 48 southbound off-ramp. The closure will ensure motorist and worker safety for exit ramp slope repairs resulting from heavy rainfall and is expected to last until 5:00 a.m. Thursday. The work is weather sensitive and may be delayed or rescheduled.

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes during construction. The Maine Turnpike Authority and contractor Wyman & Simpson of Richmond appreciate your patience during these necessary repairs.