Interstate 495 (Maine)
<< Interstate 395 (Maine) All Points in Maine Secret State Route 703 >>

Termini and Mileage (2006)	Termini Eastbound alignment: Int of I 495 EB, I 95 NB, Portland to Int of I 295 NB, I 495 EB, Falmouth Westbound alignment: Int of I 295 SB, I 495 WB, Falmouth to Int of I 495 WB, I 95 SB, Portland Mileage Eastbound alignment: 4.39 miles (total over all segments) Westbound alignment: 4.41 miles (total over all segments)
Notes and History	Interstate 495 is Maine's unsigned Interstate, an ignominious fate for a number that once graced the entirety of the Maine Turnpike north of the Falmouth Spur to Augusta after its designation in 1988; see Interstate 95 for the history of this alignment. In 2004, MDOT switched the designations of I-95, I-295 and I-495 for continuity of the Maine Turnpike under one route number, a new I-95, instead of running I-95 over the Falmouth Spur to the old free alignment along the coast (which was to be added to I-295). I-495's entire old length was redesignated I-95, but as I-95 no longer needed to cross on the Falmouth Spur to the coast and the new I-295, the Falmouth Spur was re-designated as I-495. For the history of the Falmouth Spur, part of the Turnpike's expansion in the 1950s, see I-95. Note that I said re-designated -- not re-signed. There are no I-495 shields along the entire alignment, and the only giveaway that the routing is atypical are the mileposts, signed with an "FS" endorsement (for Falmouth Spur). In fact, the only I-495 shield left on the road in Maine is on the sign entering the state warning motorists that the numbers have changed, dating from the 2004 renumbering. Instead, I-495 is simply referred to as "TO I-295" and "TO US 1" from I-95; "TO I-95" from US 1; and "TO I-95" (or sometimes just "I-95") from I-295. The toll plaza managing Turnpike traffic sits in the middle of the routing. Interestingly, the original MDOT proposal suggested eliminating I-495 altogether. This was not accepted by AASHTO; the Falmouth Spur I-495 designation was offered as an amendment and accepted instead.
Exit List	There are no numbered exits, so numbers below do not correspond to the field and are based on milepoint. Old exits 15A and 15B are formerly I-95. Although I-495 was technically affected by the 2004 exit renumbering (see I-95), its exits are no longer numbered in any case. Exit descriptions are designed to be informational only and may not match signage. 0/1. I-95, Portland 4A. I-295 NB, Falmouth (includes old 15A, US 1 SB, Falmouth) 4B (15B). US 1 NB, Falmouth
Archival Photographs
Then the largest sign on any Maine highway, this was the original signage for the Falmouth Spur exit from the northbound Turnpike (Highway News 1/59); today, I-95 would be straight ahead and unsigned I-495 along the exit. Note the old-style number font on the I-95 shield.
Additional Photographs
Warning sign for I-95/I-295/I-495 redesignation and exit renumbering at the south end of I-95, NB, before the Turnpike. This is the only I-495 shield remaining in Maine.
Additional Resources	Maine's Interstate turns 50! (MDOT timeline) Interstate 495 (Maine) @ Interstate-Guide.com and Interstate 495 @ NorthEastRoads.com (Andy Field/Alex Nitzman) Interstate 495 (Maine) (Wikipedia)

<< Interstate 395 (Maine) All Points in Maine Secret State Route 703 >>

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