Interstate 495 (Maine)

Interstate 495 (Maine)

Interstate 495 (I-495) is the unsigned designation for the Falmouth Spur, a short freeway connecting Interstate 95 with Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 1 north of Portland, Maine, United States. As part of the Maine Turnpike, the main line of which carries Interstate 95, I-495 is a toll road. The spur has only two interchanges - one at each end - and a toll booth in the middle. It is signed only for its destinations - I-95, I-295 and US 1 - to minimize driver confusion.

Prior to January 2004, Interstate 495 was a 50.47-mile (81.22 km) section of the Maine Turnpike, running from the west end of the Falmouth Spur (which carried Interstate 95) north to the present junction with Interstate 295 at Gardiner (south of Augusta). This was re-signed as I-95 in order to designate the whole Turnpike as I-95 and thus reduce confusion. Most of the former I-95 between Portland and Augusta became an extension of Interstate 295, while the short Falmouth Spur was given the unsigned Interstate 495 designation.

Destinations on signs (control cities) are the same as when it was part of I-95 - Falmouth and Freeport for eastbound traffic from I-95, and Lewiston and Kittery (one for each direction of the Turnpike) for westbound traffic from US 1. Signs on I-295 southbound point traffic for New Hampshire, Massachusetts and "points south" along I-495.

MUTCD-compliant mile markers proceed easterly from the western end with the letters FS (for Falmouth Spur) horizontally on a line below the word MILE and range from 0 to 3.