Scarborough Connector
Scarborough Connector | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State Route 701 | ||||
Map of the South Portland and Scarborough area with the Scarborough Connector highlighted in red | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MaineDOT | ||||
| Length | 1.77 mi[1] (2.85 km) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North end |  I-295 in South Portland | |||
| South end |   US 1 / SR 9 in Scarborough | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | United States | |||
| State | Maine | |||
| County | Cumberland | |||
| Highway system | ||||
| ||||
The Scarborough Connector, unsigned State Route 701 (SR 701), is a 1.77-mile (2.85 km) freeway located in southern Maine which connects U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and SR 9 in Scarborough to Interstate 295 (I-295) in South Portland. The Scarborough Connector functions as part of a bypass of South Portland and as part of a connecting route between downtown Scarborough, The Maine Mall, and the Maine Turnpike (I-95).
The SR 701 designation is only indicated on mileposts, which increase from north to south as opposed to the standard practice of increasing from south to north. All other signage refers to the major routes to which it connects (I-95, I-295 and US 1).
Route description
The Scarborough Connector begins in the north as an offshoot of I-295 at exit 2 in South Portland. There is one southbound interchange with the Maine Turnpike Approach Road eastbound, which provides a connection to US 1 north and downtown South Portland. The freeway crosses into Scarborough and continues south for 1.6 miles (2.6 km) before merging onto US 1 south / SR 9 west towards downtown. Traffic may use the nearby intersection at Hillcrest Avenue to change direction.
In the south, the Connector begins as a left exit from US 1 north / SR 9 east and heads due north. The first northbound exit leads to the Maine Turnpike Approach Road westbound, which leads to The Maine Mall and the Maine Turnpike (I-95). A second exit connects to Broadway in downtown South Portland. Following the Broadway exit, the freeway merges onto I-295 north towards Portland.
Except at the southern end approaching US 1 / SR 9, the Scarborough Connector has a posted speed limit of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h).
History
The Scarborough Connector was originally designated as an Inventory Road, #072037, without a numeric designation.[2] The SR 701 designation was added later and the number posted on mileposts along the highway. The SR 701 designation officially terminates northbound at the Broadway interchange, but the Inventory Road designation extends an additional 0.57 miles (0.92 km) along the exit ramps connecting to I-295, bringing the highway's overall length to 2.34 miles (3.77 km).[1]
Exit list
Exits are listed in order from north to south as mileposts increase in that direction. The entire route is in Cumberland County. All exits are unnumbered.
| Location | mi[1] | km | Destinations | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Portland | 0.00 | 0.00 |  I-295 north – Portland | Northbound exit/southbound entrance; exit 2 on I-295 | |
| Broadway – South Portland | Northbound exit/southbound entrance | ||||
| 0.08 | 0.13 |      To I-95 / Maine Turnpike (Maine Turnpike Approach) – Maine Mall Road, Jetport | Northbound exit and entrance, unsigned SR 703 west | ||
 To US 1 (Maine Turnpike Approach) – Main Street, South Portland | Southbound exit and entrance, unsigned SR 703 east | ||||
| Scarborough | 1.77 | 2.85 |   US 1 south / SR 9 west – Scarborough, Old Orchard | Southbound exit/northbound entrance, SR 9 not present on signage from Scarborough Connector | |
| 1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi | |||||
References
- ^ a b c "MaineDOT Public Map Viewer". Maine Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
- ^ "Floodgap Roadgap's RoadsAroundME: Secret State Route 703". Retrieved June 25, 2018.