MaineDOT to Work on I-295 in South Portland

SOUTH PORTLAND - July 30, 2026 - From August 9 to August 11, the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) will close Route 1 between Billy Vachon Avenue and the I295 southbound onramp at Exit 4, including the ramp from Veterans Memorial Bridge, from 8 P.M. to 6 A.M. each night as part of a highway construction project. Traffic will be detoured via Main Street, Westbrook Street, and Broadway to the I295 southbound onramp at Exit 3.

Drivers and pedestrians should follow the detour map and detour signs while on site.

Message boards are in place to warn drivers of the closure.

Motorists should expect delays and use caution when traveling through the detour zone.

The project work is weather dependent and will be rescheduled to the following night if the weather does not allow for work to be conducted.

Work is expected to be completed by Fall 2026.

The contractor for this project is Wyman & Simpson of Richmond, Maine.

The contract amount is $12,444,444.44.

City Council Invites Community Members to Serve on the New Mahoney City Center Committee

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – This week, South Portland City Council set forth a vision for the future of the Mahoney School property and formed a new ad hoc Mahoney City Center Committee. The City Council is inviting members of the community to serve on the volunteer committee that will create a plan to transform the former Mahoney School property into a vibrant civic and cultural hub. Interested applicants are encouraged to learn more and apply at: southportland.gov/mahoney 

“The Mahoney School served our community for generations. Now we have

SMCC names Jeff Schools as new communications director

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) is pleased to announce it has hired Jeff Schools as its new Director of Communications.

Schools is a seasoned digital media director with years of experience as a

South Portland, Broadway Corridor and Mill Creek Signal Improvements; Bicycle Accommodation and Other Improvements

Date: 05/02/2018
Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: South Portland City Hall Council Chambers, 25 Cottage Road, South Portland
FMI-Phone: 207-624-3612
FMI-Email: Brian.keezer@maine.gov


Please join MaineDOT at a formal public meeting to discuss "Broadway Avenue corridor and Mill Creek signal improvements, bicycle accommodation improvements and other misc. improvements from the Erskine Drive intersection to the Cottage Road intersection in South Portland."


Representatives of the Maine Department of Transportation will be present on Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00 p.m. to listen to concerns, receive comments, and answer questions from anyone with an interest in the project. The Department is particularly interested in learning local views relative to project consistency with local comprehensive plans, discovering local resources, and identifying local concerns and issues. Anyone with an interest is invited to attend and participate in the meeting.


Accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Auxiliary aids will be provided upon advance request.


Any inquiries regarding this project may be directed to the attention of Brian Keezer, Senior Project Manager, Maine Department of Transportation, Multimodal Program, 24 Child Street, 16 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0016, Telephone: (207) 624-3612. Email: brian.keezer@maine.gov


Work Identification Numbers 18665.00

Federal Aid Project Numbers STP-1866(500)

TTY Users Dial Maine Relay 711

Casco Bay Bridge Down to One Lane Northbound

South Portland, Maine - The Casco Bay Bridge, linking Portland and South Portland over the Fore River, will be down to one lane northbound on Tuesday, June 9th from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Crews will be performing electrical work on new lights that have been installed on the sidewalk over the bascule area (the bridge opening). This will increase visibility of pedestrians for the draw tenders in the evening hours as well as in heavy fog.

Motorists may experience slight delays traveling from South Portland into Portland while this work is being performed.

Paving in South Portland at Two Locations

South Portland, Maine - A one day paving operation will take place in South Portland tomorrow, July 23rd, in two locations.

The first location will be on Market Street from Waterman Drive to Ocean Street beginning at 5 a.m.

Once Market Street is completed, crews will be on Cottage Road from Hinckley Street to Highland Avenue.

While both locations will be completed tomorrow, motorists should expect moderate delays with alternating one-way traffic controlled by flaggers and should seek alternate routes.

State awards South Portland’s Kaler Elementary $1.6 million for school improvement

The funding from the Maine Department of Education will help transform the struggling school and increase student achievement, teacher effectiveness and community engagement

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine – A South Portland elementary school will use $1.6 million awarded today by the Maine Department of Education to raise student proficiency in math and reading by 10 percent annually over the next three years.

The James Otis Kaler Elementary School, which serves 231 pre-K through grade 5 students, joins 11 others across the state that have received funding for intensive improvement work from the Department since 2010 through the federal School Improvement Grant program (SIG).

“Improving schools improves opportunities for our kids to reach their full potential,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “Instead of making excuses, Kaler Elementary School leaders are raising the expectations of themselves and their students. I congratulate them for putting their students first and giving the classroom teachers the resources they need to raise aspirations and achievement.”

Kaler was one of 13 schools eligible to apply for the State support because it has continued to be among Maine’s most struggling. Despite a school-based renewal effort launched there in 2011, school officials say Kaler has not made meaningful headway overcoming its challenges, including high teacher turnover and a growing percentage of students who are economically disadvantaged or require special education or English language learning services.

The school has received an “F” on its State report card the last two years, and just 38.5 percent of its students are proficient in math and 44.4 percent in reading, significantly below the State average.

Maine Education Commissioner Jim Rier said many Maine schools can make improvements by focusing existing resources, including $100 million annually from the Department solely for supporting economically disadvantaged and English language learners. But for those schools with the greatest challenges, this additional State support can jumpstart long overdue change.

“I want to commend the Kaler school community for confronting their challenges head-on and with their sleeves rolled up,” said Commissioner Rier. “The work they’ve committed to doing is rigorous, but it’s the right thing to do to ensure their students get the high-quality education they deserve.”

Much of the funding awarded by the Maine DOE will be used to enhance educator effectiveness at Kaler through increased and specialized support and professional development for teachers.

Under the leadership of a new principal, the school will hire new math and data coaches, as well as four ed techs; add more than two days of structured staff time to review student performance data to inform interventions and instruction; and offer $30,000 annually in stipends for teachers and administrators showing student achievement gains.

The State’s support will also allow Kaler to extend its school day to give students more instructional time; strengthen a partnership with LearningWorks that will provide increased after-school and summer programming; and purchase new technology for teaching and learning.

Ensuring Kaler kids and parents have the non-academic resources they need to be ready to learn is also central to the school’s improvement plan. Grant money will be used to contract with Spurwink, Opportunity Alliance and the United Way of Greater Portland to support parents and connect them with community resources and to provide needed behavioral and mental health counseling to students.

“We are excited to be recipients this grant and believe the resources included over the next three years will help the Kaler School Community increase student achievement,” said South Portland School Department Superintendent Suzanne Godin. “While the Kaler principal and staff have been working hard to support students and increase parent and community engagement, the coaching positions and increased student learning time are strategies we haven't been able to provide in our local budget. We look forward to the work ahead.”

For more information about the School Improvement Grant program or Maine DOE’s school improvement efforts, visit www.maine.gov/doe/sig/.

Paving to Re-Start on Broadway in South Portland

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine - South Portland - Crews will be back paving Broadway in South Portland this Friday, June 6th.

Paving will take place on Broadway between Route 1 and Cash Corner to Westbrook Street (Route 9). Westbound traffic will be detoured at Cash Corner and sent south on Route 1 to Westbrook Street from 7 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m.

If there is inclement weather, the paving and the detour will take place on Saturday, June 7th.

Paving on Broadway in South Portland to Require Detour

South Portland, Maine - The remaining paving operations on Broadway in South Portland will require an approximately 1.7 mile detour beginning tomorrow. (Thursday, May 29th)

The paving will take place on Broadway between Route 1 at Cash Corner to Westbrook Street. (Route 9) Westbound traffic will be detoured at Cash Corner and sent south on Route 1 to Westbrook Street from 7:00 a.m. to approximately 6 p.m.

It is anticipated this detour will be in place for three days but is weather dependent, so the schedule is subject to change.

Urban Land Institute Selects Portland & South Portland as First Community Resiliency Program Recipient

Nationally Renowned Panel of Land Use & Urban Planning Experts to Visit

Area May 12-16 to Develop Strategies for Resilient Waterfront

PORTLAND, Maine – The City of Portland is excited to announce that the Urban Land Institute has chosen Portland and South Portland as its first Community Resiliency Program recipient. A group of nationally renowned land use and urban planning experts has been convened by ULI to make recommendations to the cities of Portland and South Portland on developing strategies for a resilient waterfront. ULI will host a public reception at Ocean Gateway for the resiliency grant program on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 4:00 PM to kick off the work here in the Portland region, and acquaint the public and interested parties with the panel members and the advisory services panel process.

Conducted through ULI’s advisory services program, the panel, which will be visiting the cities May 12-16, will be evaluating many aspects of waterfront resilience, including the impact of sea level rise and storm surge on real estate values and infrastructure systems. Now in its 67th year, the ULI advisory services panel program assembles experts in the fields of real estate and land use planning to participate on panels worldwide, offering recommendations for complex planning and development projects, programs and policies. Panels have developed more than 600 studies for a broad range of land uses, ranging from waterfront properties to inner-city retail.

“We are honored to be among the first cities in the county with which the Community Resiliency Program will work,” said Jeff Levine, Portland’s Director of Planning & Urban Development. “We are looking forward to developing strategies to preserve the region’s economy and quality of life when change happens.”

The ULI panel assignment for Portland and South Portland is the first in a series of advisory panels being supported by an $800,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation to advance the institute’s pursuit of urban design and development practices that are more resilient and adaptable to the impact of climate change. Through the grant from The Kresge Foundation, ULI is leveraging the substantial expertise of its members to provide guidance on community building in a way that responds to inevitable climate change and sea level rise, and helps preserve the environment, boost economic prosperity, and foster a high quality of life.

The communities chosen for advisory panel assistance through ULI’s community resilience work are being selected on the basis of 1) the community’s long-range resilience challenges and vulnerabilities to weather and sea-level changes, and 2) the opportunity for the results to be applied to other communities with similar vulnerabilities.

The blueprint of these five-day resiliency panels is the panel that ULI conducted in New York and New Jersey following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. In that groundbreaking panel, ULI assembled a team from around the world, with expertise in infrastructure, design, real estate development, finance and investment, and public policy and made 23 specific recommendations. The Sandy Panel focused its research and recommendations around four core topics; and the Portland region will do the same.

The results of the work here in Portland and South Portland will be presented at an event at 8:30 AM on Friday, May 16 at the Jewett Auditorium on the campus of Southern Maine Community College. The event is open to the public.

Secretary of State Announces Relocation of the South Portland Bureau of Motor Vehicle Office to Scarborough

**South Portland BMV branch will be closed October 24th and 25th for the move; the new Scarborough office will open for business at 8:00am on Monday, October 28, 2013.** 
South Portland, Maine -  Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap has announced that the South Portland Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) located at the Maine Mall will be relocating to 200 Expedition Drive, Suite G/H in Scarborough. The South Portland BMV branch will close on October 24th and the new office in Scarborough will open on Monday, October 28, 2013 at 8:00am.

"Relocating this BMV office has been a significant priority for several years," said Secretary Dunlap. "However, finding a new site in the general proximity of the current location that meets customer needs as well as the needs of this Department, while staying on budget, has proven to be a difficult undertaking. I think that the space we've found in Scarborough meets the majority of our expectations and customers will be happy with the improvements the new location has enabled us to make."

The current BMV office at the Maine Mall in South Portland is the second most active branch of the 13 locations statewide. Serving 60,000 customers annually, it is grossly undersized for the volume of customers it assists. The lobby only accommodates seating for 34 and the parking lot is inadequate and inconvenient for customers and staff, especially during the holiday seasons.

The new site is 3.5 miles from the South Portland location and offers easy access from Rt. 1 and the Turnpike, which makes it a convenient location for public transportation. The office will have adequate on-site parking for customers and employees (100 spaces) and 9 dedicated parking spaces for road testing and parallel parking. There will be seating for 59 customers in the lobby as well as a public restroom, which was not previously available at the South Portland location.

As the South Portland Office will be closed on October 24th and 25th, customers are encouraged to visit the Portland BMV Office located at 125 Presumpscot Street, Unit 4. A list of all available locations can be found at the following link: http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/locations/index.html. Customers may also want to review the BMV website at http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/index.html to see if their transaction may be taken care of online .

Detour on Broadway in South Portland Begins Monday

South Portland, Maine - A paving project on Broadway between Lincoln Street and Route 1 (Cash Corner) in South Portland will necessitate a detour around this area beginning on Monday, August 26th. Weather permitting, normal traffic patterns should return by September 7th.

Westbound traffic (outbound) on Broadway will be detoured onto Lincoln Street to Main Street to Cash Corner. Eastbound traffic on Broadway will not be affected.

South Portland Bus Service Maine Mall Route 24B will also follow the detour route.

This detour will be in place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday with possible Saturdays.

The entire project, performed by Shaw Brothers of Gorham, begins at the intersection of Broadway and Westbrook Street, extending northerly for 1.54 miles to one-tenth of a mile before the intersection of Broadway and Lincoln Street in South Portland.

This $641,000 project is expected to wrap up for the season during the first week of November.

UPDATED-BREAKING NEWS: Maine Mall Reopened

UPDATED-BREAKING NEWS: South Portland, Maine - South Portland fire department says a gas line was struck by a snowplow and has been contained. Mall to reopen shortly.

BREAKING NEWS: The Maine Mall Evacuated

BREAKING NEWS: South Portland, Maine - The Maine Maine has been evacuated due to a potential gas leak. Police are confirming an evacuation at the Maine Mall in South Portland due to a potential gas leak. Few details are available but we have will have the latest when it becomes available...

Department Store "Bon Ton" Coming To Maine

Photo Credit: CBSNews

South Portland, Maine - Today Rocky Coast News has learned that the department store Bon Ton will be opening a store in the Maine Mall. This will be Bon Ton's first store in Maine, who has 270 stores Nationwide. Bon Ton will be going into the space where Summit Adventures - a family sports center is located. Summit Adventures will be moving into the former Chuck E. Cheese location.

They are going to do a complete refurbishment of the space. The interior will essentially be brand new. They are bringing in great brands like

South Portland School Board - District Four Winner

South Portland, Maine - James Gilboy was the clear winner of the Write In votes for District Four – Board of Education.  The following people received at least five or more votes;

District Four
Board of Education
Gilboy, James 74
McIntire, Alan 12
Viola, Jacob 6
Battle, Kevin 5
DiMillo, Albert Jr 5

Vote 2012: South Portland Unofficial Election Results

South Portland

MUNICIPAL BALLOT

City Council - District Three   District One   District Two  District Three/Four  District Five  Central

Blanks                                    242               227               456                         244              546       1,715

DeAngelis, Rosemarie             662               634               1,475                      699              2,044    5,514

Linscott, Melissa E.                 1,043            902               2,031                      1,104          2,064     7,144

Write‐Ins                                      11              14                   29                           26               26        106

City Council - District Four

Blanks                                         481           375                 834                          372           1,058     3,120

Cohen, Linda C.                       1,459         1,383              3,105                       1,671          3,580   11,198

Write‐Ins                                       18              19                   52                            30               42        161

Board of Education - District Three

Blanks                                         505            392                 880                          406           1,171    3,354

Matthews, Richard T.               1,434         1,367               3,061                      1,643           3,479  10,984

Write‐Ins                                       19             18                     50                           24               30        141

Board of Education - District Four

Blanks                                     1,828         1,648                3,604                      1,907            4,368 13,355

Write‐Ins                                    130            129                   387                         166               312   1,124

Rising Singer/Songwriter Amy Allen of South Portland Maine

Our latest Musician Spotlight features a 20 year old singer/songwriter from South Portland, Maine. The singer/songwriter we are feature is Amy Allen. Amy Allen most recently opened for Randy Houser at the 65th Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine. There she performed a sound check, set of her music, did a meet & greet and had time to meet Randy Houser. At the festival Amy and her band did a wonderful job performing.

What better way to tell our readers about the wonderful singer Amy Allen than herself.

Amy Allen, I’m a singer/songwriter from South Portland, Maine, and I just turned 20 years old!

   In elementary school, I would have done absolutely anything to be a member of the supercool all-girl rock band called No-U-Turn, which was all the rage among my middle school. Considering my older sister Ashley was the drummer, I thought I might have a chance at sneaking my way in somehow; the only hitch was that I was still in elementary school…and oh yeah- the only instrument I knew how to play was the recorder, and recorders were not cool. But finally, the day came when No-U-Turn realized they were in dire need of a bass player, and that’s all I needed to hear. That week I got a cheapo bass guitar, some pink high tops, a trucker hat (?), and I was in.

   It didn't take many practices for me to realize that even though the bass player is clearly the coolest member of every band, I only had eyes for the guitar. It was then that I started taking guitar lessons from a bluegrass banjo player named Carter, and starting writing my own songs. I had found my passion.

   At 13, my sister Ashley and I started playing weekly gigs at a local Irish pub (Bull Feeney’s), opening for Carter’s bluegrass band. The two of us continued writing, playing and performing our songs at pubs and numerous charity concerts (such as Music for Mobility), until she left for college and I stayed behind in high school.

   From there I began writing up a storm and decided that for my “Senior Project” I wanted to record my first EP and give the proceeds to the Tanzanian Children’s Fund (which supports an Orphanage I volunteered at during my Junior year). The 5-track EP, entitled “Honey,” evolved into something much larger than I ever anticipated! I earned the title “Best New Act” and “Best Female Vocalist” in the 2011 Portland Phoenix, which was completely unexpected but an amazing surprise! In the fall of 2010 I spent my first few months at Boston College juggling classes and music. In early 2011 I wrote a song called “Neptune,” and because it won BC’s Singer/Songwriter competition, I got to open for Sugar Ray at BC’s Spring Concert! I mean, who doesn’t like opening for “IIIII just wanna fly!”- it was a good time. While still at school I also wrote “Lightning Storm” and “Oh, Peter” which were inspired by feelings of missing home and wanting to relive a more youthful, carefree past (not saying that being 19 is old or anything… J). That summer I began recording my second EP (entitled “Neptune”), which was released on May 25th 2012!

   I also spent time in 2011 out in Los Angeles where I auditioned for NBC’s the Voice! It was a life changing experience that made me realize how important music is in my life. This realization led me to enroll in The Berklee School of Music, which I will begin to attend this coming fall (2012)! They have a singer/songwriter major! How cool is that?!

   Currently I am playing all over Maine this summer and writing as much as possible! In the last 9 months I have opened for Josh Kelley, The Wrecking, Sparks The Rescue and Jonathan Edwards which I was VERY excited about! Up next are opening slots for Freedy Johnston!

   Hope you know a little more about me now and how I wound up where I am today; pursing what I love by writing down my life stories and singing them to the world!

   It sounds like Amy Allen has a wonderful career in music ahead with her attending Berklee in the fall to major in a singer/songwriter course. We can't wait to see where this young 20 year old singer/songwriter will end up. What is for sure is that Amy has wonderful vocals and a great band  that will take her far.

Here is a Q&A we did with Amy Allen recently.

1. When did you start singing?
    I started singing and playing guitar when I was nine years old (My first instrument was actually the bass!)

2. Was it your dream to be a singer?
    I never really dreamed of being a "singer," but even from a young age I knew I wanted to play music. However it wasn't until high school that I realized the powerful influence songwriting can truly have on others, and how recreating my own life stories could help me draw connections with those around me. Ever since I released my first album (as a senior in high school) I have dreamed of pursuing a career in songwriting.

3. Do you write your own songs?
    Yes! It's my favorite part about music! However, this summer was my first time "co-writing" a  song with a friend and I LOVED it! Having the ability to play off of someone else's emotions and experiences while writing adds a whole new dimension to songwriting! Most recently I have written a handful of exciting new songs with a close friend of mine, Leland Grant, from Nashville, TN!

4. Who inspires you with your singing and songwriting?
     I have always admired singer/songwriters such as Brandi Carlile, Patty Griffin, and Joni Mitchell! Their lyrics and vocal delivery are so honest and raw, which makes them incredibly easy to relate to. To me, that is the beauty and heart of great songwriting.

5. Where was your first performance? were you excited?
     My first performance was at Bull Feeney's in Portland; I was only twelve and my sister was fourteen! We both played guitar and sang our original songs as the opening act for the Jerks of Grass! The first night I was incredibly nervous! I think I forgot more lyrics than I remembered! But we opened for them every thursday night, so every week it got easier and easier, until I felt just as "at home" on stage as I did off stage!

6. Where have you performed?
     I have been fortunate enough to play at a lot of venues between Maine and Boston! But some of my favorite performances have been at Old Port Fest, Port City Music Hall, The Empire, One Longfellow Square, the Big Easy, Portland Brewer's Fest, Lobster Fest, the Frontier, and on a floating barge in Camden! :)

7. How was it performing at Lobster fest and meeting randy Houser?
     I had a blast playing at lobster fest! Not only was the venue amazing, but the people were incredibly welcoming and supportive! It always feels great to share my music with new crowds in new places and I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity than the Maine Lobster Festival! And meeting Randy Houser was definitely a plus! He's an exceptionally talented musician and a really good guy!

8. What do you hope to accomplish with your singing/songwriting
     I hope my singing and songwriting continues to evolve and change shape as I continue to grow up and have new life experiences. Everyday I hear new bands with unique sounds and lyrics that I never would've thought of before, which inspires me to keep working at finding my own sound that defines me as an artist!

9. If you could perform anywhere in the world where would it be?
    If I could perform anywhere in the world it would be at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro! i know that might sound crazy, but I spent time volunteering in Tanzania (and climbing Kilimanjaro) during high school, and the people I met there were the driving force in creating and recording my first EP "Honey". While in Tanzania, I learned that music is truly a universal language that can overcome all barriers, whether they be racial, lingual, financial, etc. Just listening to the local music of Tanzania, and seeing the joy it brought not only to the locals, but to me and others as well, made me really understand that music can heal the soul and bring us all together, no matter our backgrounds.

10. Any advice for others?
    My only advice for other aspiring singer/songwriters would be to just do YOU! Songwriting is all about honesty, and if you stay true to yourself, you will write great songs! It's something I work toward every day!

11. Spare time?
    When I'm not writing songs or playing guitar, I love to run, surf, and spend time with my family!

12. The voice?
    Trying out for the Voice was an amazing experience! I was out in LA for a total of seven weeks, and during those weeks I met some of the most inspiring, talented and genuine people I have ever met! It felt like a dreamworld being surrounded by people who share the same passion as I do!

13. Who would you love to perform with?
    If I could perform with anyone, I would perform with my friends! I honestly can't think of a better group of people than the awesome guys who surround me at every gig! I am so lucky to play with Charlie Gaylord, Andrew Pelletier, Zach Jones, John Kumnick, and Sean Morin; they really are great musicians and amazing friends!

   Please check out Amy Allen's site at http://www.amyallenmusic.com. Also, go to our facebook page by clicking here to see some more photographs from Amy's performance at the 65th Maine Lobster Festival on August 3rd, 2012.

Rocky Coast News is pleased to have Amy Allen as our latest "Musician Spotlight", where we highlight, promote up and coming musicians that have amazing vocals, sound, style and/or who are able to play an instrument well singing.

Veterans Memorial Bridge Closed Thursday Night

Veterans Memorial Bridge Closed Thursday Night


South Portland, Maine - Due to construction of the new Veterans Memorial Bridge, the existing Veterans Memorial Bridge will be closed from 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 10 to 6 a.m. the next day. This necessary closure will allow construction crews to safely install drainage pipe across the existing bridge.

Detour signs will be posted to alert drivers of alternate routes. Please plan ahead and allow more time to get to your destination. MaineDOT regrets any inconvenience caused by this necessary closure.

Construction of the new bridge is on schedule and expected to open to traffic this summer, with the removal of the old bridge to be completed by the end of this year.

For up-to-date travel information and progress reports, please visit the project website at www.VeteransMemorialBridge.org.