Route One/Pine Point Road Resiliency
Proposed Route 1 Pilot Project
SUMMER 2026 NORTHBOUND LANE CLOSURE: JUNE 15 - AUGUST 10
What's being Studied?
The feasibility of removing a northbound lane on Route 1 so the road’s existing footprint may accommodate a future multi-use path for bikes and pedestrians. The temporary pilot area is roughly 1.2 miles long and includes the section of road that crosses Scarborough Marsh.
How?
MaineDOT’s data and modeling show that a northbound lane reduction will not create delays on Route 1, but models and data don’t account for driver behavior. Before committing to a permanent lane closure, the Town requested MaineDOT test the new design to determine if the lane reduction should be part of the plans for the Route 1 Resiliency Project. MaineDOT agreed to a temporary lane closure this summer when traffic volumes are highest. If the design works under these extreme conditions, it should work other times of the year.
Before and during the closure, MaineDOT will monitor traffic by collecting real-time data, including: speeds, volumes, delays, and diversions to Payne Road or the Turnpike. They will analyze the data and provide recommendations for the Town Council and the public to consider as next steps in the Resiliency Project.
The road will return to four lanes at the end of the pilot.
Why add a multi-use path?
Many local and regional studies and the Town’s Comprehensive Plan show the need for active transportation facilities on Route 1. Recent Scarborough community surveys also indicate residents’ desire to add bike lanes and sidewalks along Route 1. With a project of this scale that includes installing a bridge with a lifespan of 100+ years, this is the only opportunity to provide bike and pedestrian access in this location.
Why not widen the road instead?
Scarborough Marsh is a highly valued and sensitive area. MaineDOT is required to limit the impact on the Marsh, which means the road can’t be widened to add the multi-use path.
Learn More
Important dates
May 6, 2026
Town Council workshop with MaineDOT
June 15 - August 10, 2026
Anticipated lane closure
click image to enlarge
Pilot contacts
Angela Blanchette, Town Engineer
ablanchette@scarboroughmaine.org
Ernie Martin, MaineDOT
Ernest.Martin@maine.gov
Project Contacts
Town of Scarborough Contacts
Angela Blanchette, Town Engineer
ablanchette@scarboroughmaine.org
Jami Fitch, Sustainability Manager
jfitch@scarboroughmaine.org
MaineDOT Contact
Ernie Martin, Senior Project Manager
Ernest.Martin@maine.gov
Background
US Route 1 is a major mobility corridor that stretches through the heart of Scarborough. Approximately 30,000 vehicles travel the road on a daily basis. Pine Point Road is the primary access point to Scarborough’s largest beach community and serves as the primary evacuation route for approximately 900 properties in Scarborough’s Pine Point village area.
Both roads periodically flood with seawater during astronomical high tides and/or storm events, and sea level rise will cause the roads to flood more often.
Maine DOT listed these areas as two of the top priority resiliency projects in the State due to their vulnerability to sea level rise. Past studies, including those carried out by the Sea Level Adaptation Working Group (SLAWG) and private consultants, have also identified these roads among Scarborough’s most vulnerable. Scarborough’s Comprehensive Plan identifies resiliency planning for the Town’s critical infrastructure as a significant priority for the Town. In a 2022 community meeting on climate change and resiliency, 89% of participants at the indicated that they were “very concerned” about resiliency on Scarborough’s infrastructure.
The Marsh is also impacted by sea level rise and development within its watershed. Scarborough Marsh is Maine’s largest salt marsh and provides essential habitat for many threatened and endangered species. Any alteration to the US Route 1 and Pine Point Road will need to consider potential impacts to the Marsh. A comprehensive study is needed to inform a strategy for upgrading the roads to make them more resilient while considering the health of the Marsh and potential impacts to private properties upstream of the road crossings.
Scarborough Public Works truck plows water off Route One during 1/17/2022 storm.
Route One flooded during 12/23/2022 storm.
Climate-Ready Resiliency Project
On April 22, 2022 the Town of Scarborough was announced as one of 75 communities to receive a Community Action Grant to fight and adapt to climate change. In December 2021, the Governor announced the Community Resilience Partnership, “a program of the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future to help Maine communities with local climate action plans to become more resilient against climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” The grants come from this program and support climate priority projects ranging from creating community climate action plans, protecting historic downtowns from rising sea levels, supporting clean energy investments like electric vehicle charging, and more.
Scarborough received $46,240 for its proposed project, “Climate-Ready Infrastructure: Building a Resilient Route 1 and Pine Point Road”. The funding will be used to develop resiliency strategies for US Route 1 where it crosses Scarborough Marsh and State Route 9 (Pine Point Road) near the Maine Audubon Center.
Through this two-year project, the Town of Scarborough will collaborate with the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) to develop a community-supported resiliency strategy for the two major roadways. MaineDOT will lead the technical and engineering components of the project, while the Town of Scarborough will lead community engagement and outreach efforts.
Public Works plows through flooding on Route One during a January 17, 2021 winter storm