The highway stretches 110 miles from Kittery to Augusta. A critical link in a vast network of highways serving New England’s largest state, the Turnpike connects 10 of the state’s 12 most populous urban centers. Nearly 60 million vehicles used the Turnpike in 2000, and the highway continues to serve as Maine’s economic lifeline.

The Maine Turnpike was among the very first to adopt a sophisticated electronic toll collection system. Today, nearly a third of the Turnpike’s users pay their tolls electronically without stopping at tollbooths. Maine Turnpike travelers are provided real-time information about road conditions, construction and traffic delays on 1610 AM, the Turnpike’s highway advisory radio station. Traffic information is also relayed over a network of roadside electronic message boards. Travel information is available on the Maine Turnpike Authority’s Web site and thousands of turnpike users subscribe to the Authority’s e-mail traffic alert service.

During the spring of 2000, the Maine Turnpike Authority launched its Widening and Modernization program, a five-year, 30-mile, $135 million project. When the project is complete, the Turnpike will have a new, third travel lane from York to South Portland, as well as safety enhancements that will modernize the highway.

The Turnpike Authority is also investing and promoting viable transportation alternatives like the GOMaine program, the ZOOM Turnpike Express bus; and the return of passenger rail service between Boston and Portland.