MaineDOT Won’t Close Lane On Route One in Scarborough, Maine

In just a couple of weeks, traffic along Route One in Scarborough, Maine, is going to get a lot busier.

That's because the height of tourism season is set to kick off bringing piles of people into southern Maine to enjoy restaurants, beaches and some fantastic Maine hospitality.

However, back in March, people throughout Scarborough, Maine, were caught off guard when the Maine Department of Transportation put forth a proposal that would have closed a key northbound lane of Route One for almost the entire summer.

MaineDOT Wanted to Close Northbound Lane on Route One in Scarborough, Maine

According to Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough, Maine, the MaineDOT had proposed eliminating one of the two northbound lanes on Route One along the Scarborough marsh area.

This lane elimination would have extended from the traffic light to turn onto Payne Road all the way until the Tractor Supply Company.

According to the MaineDOT, the project isn't aimed at snarling traffic but instead a needed shift as infrastructure thorough the marsh area has been impacted by sea level rising with that stretch of Route 1 become more susceptible to flooding and high tides.

The lane elimination was slated to begin in late-June and extend through August. That is typically the most congested time on that stretch of Route One all year long.

The MaineDOT proposal was set to be a trial closure in 2026 with potential to become a permanent one in the future.

MaineDOT Reverses Plans and Will Not Close Route One Lane in Scarborough

After many residents as well as business owners in Scarborough became aware of the MaineDOT proposal, there was immediate opposition.

That opposition grew enough that town leaders in Scarborough informed the MaineDOT that the town was no longer interested in pursuing the proposal this summer.

The MaineDOT and the town of Scarborough will likely revisit the proposed plan next year as the evaluation of the marsh will be ongoing throughout 2026.