SECRET Pig Knoll Interchange last updated 2005-08-12 703

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	Exit 45 (formerly 7) as we all know and loathe it. The Maine Turnpike (I-95) is the main north-south freeway in the center of the photo. Unsigned state route 703 connects to turnpike exit 45 at the trumpet interchange, which is followed by a folded diamond connection to Maine Mall Rd. Image from Terraserver; photographed 1998-04-29
	A Photochopped mockup featuring the extension of rt.703 to the SW Gorham bypass that PACTS has been kicking around, with a new exit serving the Maine Mall. My original design featured a four-level stack, but by leaving the loop ramp present (slightly relocated to make way for 703's new mainline) and pulling the North -> West flyover away from the center, I was able to keep the interchange down to three levels, with fairly compact dimensions. This arrangement, with the positioning of the trumpet, will necessitate a slight relocation of the toll facilities. Not pictured. Imagine it.
	...and color coded for comprehension: Ground Level: Maine Turnpike / I-95 mainline Blue: extension of rt.703 mainline; loop ramp from 95 south to 703 east Green: ramps from 703 to I-95 White: ramps from I-95 to 703 Red: rerouted Cummings Rd.

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Comments:

• This design could be altered slightly for 703 to merge/split with Running Hill Rd, as in the concept shown on Map 2 of the above-linked PACTS Issue Paper 6, which removes the overlap of routes 22 and 114. The Map 1 concept is shown - if the DOT were actually to go the expense of construcing such an interchange, I see it as most practical in the long term to have it serve a limited-access expressway. Oh, and please do it properly - 4 lanes; none of this super-2 nonsense.
  
• The new trumpet interchange allows traffic more direct highway access to and from the mall, without having to be routed along Maine Mall road, wait at 2-3 lights and make left turns. The red light hell on Payne Rd / Maine Mall Rd between Cummings Rd and Philbrook Ave can be relieved: the light now at the south set of ramps could be removed with the ramps; traffic exiting from the Circuit City store can be have a median break with a stop sign . Philbrook Ave is widened (though this is not really depicted) and straightened. There is now only one signal at Philbrook Ave & Maine Mall road. It also controls the business entrance to the west, which could possibly be remodeled to come to the same point at the intersection.
• If this whole shebang is eventually built, with an expressway connecting to the Southwest Gorham bypass and beyond, it'd be about time for a posted route number, and the concomitant numbering of exits. I suggest the currently unused route 20 - this nice round number fits in well with 22 and 25 in the Portland-Gorham area, 26 also being in Greater Portland.
  
  I envision this as follows:
  

  Exit	-	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	-
  Eastbound Read L-R	Split from	Gorham Buxton	South St. Gorham	Westbrook N. Scarborough	Lewiston Kittery	Philbrook Ave Maine Mall Rd	North Portland	Broadway So. Portland	To Scarborough	Eastern terminus at Main St So. Portland
  Westbound Read R-L	Merge into	Gorham Buxton	South St. Gorham	Westbrook N. Scarborough	Lewiston Kittery	Philbrook Ave Maine Mall Rd			North Broadway So. Portland

Back to the Maine Drag.

Route shield images courtesy of Barry L. Camp.
Except for the Maine Turnpike shield - that one's mine! =)