Eastern Trail Construction Begins

Construction is officially underway on the long-anticipated Close the Gap project in Scarborough, Maine!

In partnership with the Town of Scarborough, Eastern Trail Alliance, and MaineDOT, this project will add 1.6 miles of off-road trail to the Eastern Trail, connecting the trail segment off Eastern Road to the northern trail segment near the Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland. This new segment will eliminate a key on-road gap, improving safety and accessibility for trail users.

This project is the result of several years of work to raise the necessary funds, complete the project design, align stakeholders, and acquire the necessary permits and land rights. It went out to bid in Spring 2025 and construction began in June.

This construction project will be completed in phases. The section from Pleasant Hill Road to Wainwright is expected to be completed by October 2026. The section from the Nonesuch River crossing (off Eastern Road extension) to Pleasant Hill Road will take a little longer, as it requires the construction of two bridges (one over the river, as seen in the photos, and the other over the railroad tracks). The full project will likely be complete in October 2027. 

For ongoing project updates, please visit the Eastern Trail Close the Gap project page of our website.

New Route Map