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Falmouth Crossing last updated 2005-04-24
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| Falmouth Crossing now. 295 enters SW and leaves NE. US-1 parallels 295 slightly further east. The Falmouth Spur, unsigned I-495, departs the Maine Turnpike to the west, enters this picture from the NW, and ends at the trumpet connection with US-1. Prior to January 2004, the Falmouth Spur was part of the I-95 alignment, with what is now 295 north of this interchange also being signed as I-95. Only the north-north (now 495e->295n) and south-south (now 295s->495w) ramps between the existing spur and the new freeway were completed, allowing complete freeway access for... 95->95. Anyone wishing to travel between the turnpike and 295 to the south has to make the sonnections via surface roads. Image from Terraserver; photographed 1998-04-29 |
| Completing the connections... Inspired by Portsmouth, NH, dig the 3-way directional split at the eastern terminus of 495. L to R lanes, to/from: 295N, US-1, 295S. With this arrangement, someone traveling from intown Portland to, for example, Gray and back would not have to be Breezewooded. Here, the outer ramps on the exit 10 folded diamond have been pulled back a bit, for less interference with grades of new ramps connecting 295 and 495. The SB ramp from Bucknam road merges with 495's - I'm thinking collector/distributor road but it's not represented in this mockup. East-North traffic (on I-95's former routing) is handled by a flyover rather than the tight loop ramp, and the left exit problem is reduced as the bulk of thru traffic is no longer keeping right. All connections are present and suitable for mainline speed. |
| The semi-final version. It helps further clarify the grade separations, as not all my shading is very visible in the above pic. |
  
| For consistency with the SB exit numbering, I'd also call the NB ramp for 495 Exit 11. Exiting from a split in the same ramp as Exit 10 may lead to some rather kooky signage, by Maine standards. I've seen it done in CT or MA... |