Home > Route Selection > US 1 > History > Maine

Route History for US 1 in Maine

• In 1926 -
• Between Fort Kent and Madawaska, US 1 was called ME 160. This section of road was improved, but not paved.
• Between Madawaska and Calais, US 1 was called ME 24. Most of the road was improved (not paved) with a few sections to the north of Calais still being unimproved dirt. In Caribou, ME 24 followed what is now Main Street and ME 164 through town. Between Presque Isle and Mars Hill, the route US 1 now follows did not exist. In 1926, ME 24 followed the route of what is now ME 10 and US 1A from Presque Isle to Mars Hill.
• Between Calais and the New Hampshire state line, US 1 was called NE 1 (or possibly ME 1). In the area of Pembroke and West Pembroke, NE 1 followed what is now called Old US Highway 1, Old Route 1 Road, and Old County Road. Through Dennysville, NE 1 followed what is now ME 86, Water Street, and Old Route 1. NE 1 followed the route of what is now US 1A from Ellsworth to Stockton Springs. In Stockton Springs, NE 1 followed Church Street and Main Street to get through town. In Belfast, NE 1 followed Footbridge Road, Pierce Street, Bridge Street, High Street, and Northport Avenue. In Waldoboro, NE 1 followed what is now US 1A, ME 220, Main Street, and Old Route 1. In Damariscotta, NE 1 followed what is now Bypass US 1. In the Bath - Brunswick area, NE 1 followed what is now Old Route 1, Bath Road, ME 24, and Pleasant Street. In Falmouth Foreside, NE 1 followed the route of what is now ME 88. Further south, NE 1 followed the route of what is now Alternate US 1 through York Beach and York Harbor. In 1926, the road was paved between Calais and Red Beach, improved (not paved) from Red Beach to Rockport, paved from Rockport to Rockland, improved (not paved) from Rockland to Bath, paved from Bath to Biddeford, improved (not paved) from Biddeford to Wells, and paved from Wells to the New Hampshire state line.
• By 1928, the road had been renumbered US 1, and had been paved between Caribou and Houlton; Ellsworth and Bangor; Winterport and Bath; and Biddeford and the New Hampshire state line.
• By 1941, the entire route had been paved, and the road aligned to its current path around Falmouth Foreside and York Beach / York Harbor.
• By 1963, US 1 no longer went through Bangor, instead crossing the Penobscot River closer to its mouth. Also by this time, I 95 had replaced US 1 as a major through route between Brunswick and the New Hampshire state line.
• By 1968, US 1 had been realigned and constructed as a limited access highway between Bath and Brunswick. There have been no major changes to US 1 in Maine since 1968.

Key to Abbreviations for Route Numbers:

• US - US Highway
• I - Interstate Highway (Eisenhower Interstate System)
• NE - New England Interstate Highway (Pre-dates US highway system)
• ME - Maine State Highway

Welcome Page | Route Selection | US 1 Main Page | History of US 1 | US 1 History in New Hampshire | Site Map