State Route 3 (SR 3) is a 120.67-mile-long (194.20 km) state highway located in southern Maine. It is a major interregional highway, connecting the Interstate 95 corridor to the Atlantic coast. The western terminus is at SR 8, SR 11 and SR 27 in Augusta and the eastern terminus is at SR 102 and SR 198 in Mount Desert. Major cities and towns along the length of SR 3 include Augusta, Belfast, Ellsworth, and Bar Harbor.

State Route 3 marker
State Route 3
Map
Route information
Maintained by MaineDOT
Length120.67 mi[1] (194.20 km)
Existed1933–present
Major junctions
West end SR 8 / SR 11 / SR 27 in Augusta
Major intersections
East end SR 102 / SR 198 in Mount Desert
Location
CountryUnited States
StateMaine
CountiesKennebec, Waldo, Hancock
Highway system
US 2A SR 4

Route description

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Western terminus in Augusta in 2013, before extension to Civic Center Drive was completed

SR 3 begins at Civic Center Drive (SR 8/SR 11/SR 27) in the northwest corner of Augusta. SR 3 heads east using the Augusta Bypass, a controlled-access road completed in 2004 to alleviate congestion in the city center caused by traffic headed to and from I-95. The bypass ends at North Belfast Avenue (US 202/SR 9) on the east end of Augusta. SR 3 runs concurrently with US 202 and SR 9 (the Belfast Road) to the village of South China, where US 202 and SR 9 split to the north. SR 3 continues east to the city of Belfast, where it interchanges with US 1 west of downtown.

US 1 and SR 3 run concurrently for over 39 miles (63 km) from Belfast through Bucksport, crossing the Penobscot Narrows Bridge over the Penobscot River. SR 15 joins US 1 and SR 3 in downtown Bucksport and splits to the south in Orland after 4.4 miles (7.1 km). US 1 and SR 3 continue along the Acadia Highway to the city of Ellsworth.

SR 3 leaves US 1 at The Triangle, an intersection at the south end of Ellsworth that has been the center of numerous traffic problems within that city [1]. Entering the Trenton township, the remainder of the route is designated as the Acadia All-American Road.[2] Continuing south through Trenton, the route crosses a causeway to Mount Desert Island and intersects with SR 102 and SR 198, which run along the island's western side.

SR 3 turns east follows the eastern shore to the tourist town of Bar Harbor, then continues south through Acadia National Park to the village of Northeast Harbor. SR 3 intersects with SR 198 and turns north towards the village of Somesville. SR 3 and SR 198 intersect with SR 102 in Somesville; SR 3 ends and SR 198 turns north onto SR 102, eventually meeting SR 3 again near the Mount Desert Island causeway.

On the southern end of Mount Desert Island, and along the concurrency with SR 198, SR 3 signs lack directional indicators. This was intentionally done to avoid confusion, as a motorist on the southern part of the island driving on SR 3 westbound is actually traveling east (and vice versa). SR 3 signs along this stretch have "Route" in place of directional banners. Directional signs begin appearing westbound and stop appearing eastbound just east of Seal Harbor when the highway begins to loop around the island.

History

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When originally designated in 1933, the western terminus of SR 3 was located in downtown Portland. It was cosigned on sections of SR 26, SR 4 and SR 11 between Portland and Augusta. In 1946-7, the western portion of the route was truncated to Augusta and its western terminus was moved to the intersection of Bangor Street and North Belfast Avenue, where it began cosigned with US 202 and SR 9.

In 2004, the Augusta Bypass was completed, providing a connection between I-95 and points east which bypasses downtown Augusta. SR 3 was rerouted onto the new bypass, proceeding northwest to a new interchange at exit 113. The bypass connected to North Belfast Avenue where SR 3 joined US 202/SR 9 and continued its existing route eastward.

In 2013, the bypass was extended west of I-95 to connect with Old Belgrade Road and serve the new Alfond Center for Health and Cancer Center.[3] The Exit 113 interchange was reconfigured to provide full access and SR 3 was extended along the northern segment of Old Belgrade Road to its present western terminus at Civic Center Drive (SR 8/SR 11/SR 27).

Junction list

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CountyLocation[1]mi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
KennebecAugusta0.000.00    SR 8 / SR 11 / SR 27 (Civic Center Drive) – Augusta, Belgrade, FarmingtonWestern terminus
1.04–
1.57
1.67–
2.53
  I-95 – Gardiner, WatervilleExit 113 on I-95
2.213.56  SR 104 (West River Road) – Sidney, Augusta Riverfront, Cancer Center
3.255.23   US 201 / SR 100 (Riverside Drive) – Winslow, Augusta East Side Business District, Camden, Rockland
4.136.65  
 
US 202 / SR 9 west (North Belfast Avenue) – South China, Belfast
Western terminus of US 202 / SR 9 concurrency
China13.3421.47 
 
SR 32 north (Vassalboro Road) – Winslow
Western terminus of SR 32 concurrency
14.6023.50 
 
SR 32 south (Windsor Road) – Windsor
Eastern terminus of SR 32 concurrency
14.8223.85  
 
US 202 / SR 9 east (Lakeview Drive) – China, Bangor
Eastern terminus of US 202 / SR 9 concurrency
WaldoLiberty29.8448.02  SR 220 – Liberty, Thorndike
Belmont40.05–
40.13
64.45–
64.58
  SR 131 (Searsmont Road / Morrill Road) – Searsmont, UnionBrief concurrency with SR 131
Belfast46.05–
46.10
74.11–
74.19
 
 
 
 
US 1 south to SR 52 – Camden, Rockland
Western terminus of US 1 concurrency
46.60–
46.91
75.00–
75.49
 
 
 
 
SR 7 north / SR 137 west (Waldo Avenue) – Belfast, Brooks, Freedom
Interchange; westbound exit and eastbound entrance via High Street; southern terminus of SR 7 / eastern terminus of SR 137
47.4076.28 
 
SR 141 north (Swan Lake Avenue) – Swanville
Southern terminus of SR 141
Stockton Springs56.8391.46 
 
US 1A north (Bangor Road) – Winterport, Bangor
Southern terminus of US 1A
Prospect62.94101.29 
 
SR 174 west (Fort Knox Road) – Fort Knox
Eastern terminus of SR 174
Penobscot River63.05–
63.26
101.47–
101.81
Penobscot Narrows Bridge
HancockBucksport64.51103.82 
 
SR 15 north (Main Street) – Bucksport, Bangor
Western terminus of SR 15 concurrency
Orland65.66105.67 
 
SR 46 north (Duck Cove Road) – Dedham, East Holden
Southern terminus of SR 46
66.28106.67 
 
 
 
SR 175 south (Castine Road) to SR 166 – Orland, Castine
Northern terminus of SR 175
68.91110.90 
 
SR 15 south (Front Ridge Road) – Penobscot, Blue Hill, Deer Isle
Eastern terminus of SR 15 concurrency
73.09117.63 
 
SR 176 west (Surry Road) – Surry
Eastern terminus of SR 176
Ellsworth83.45134.30 
 
SR 172 south (West Main Street) – Blue Hill, Surry
Northern terminus of SR 172
83.65134.62 
 
SR 230 south (Water Street) – Trenton
Northern terminus of SR 230
83.93135.07 
 
US 1A west (Oak Street) – Bangor
Eastern terminus of US 1A
84.91–
85.64
136.65–
137.82
 
 
US 1 north (Downeast Highway) – Calais
Eastern terminus of US 1 concurrency
Trenton88.48142.39 
 
SR 204 east (Jordan River Road) – Lamoine
Western terminus of SR 204
92.14148.28 
 
SR 230 north (Oak Point Road) – Trenton
Southern terminus of SR 230
Bar Harbor93.37–
93.51
150.26–
150.49
  
 
SR 102 / SR 198 south (Main Street) – Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor
Northern terminus of SR 102 / SR 198
103.44166.47 
 
SR 233 west (Eagle Lake Road) – Cadillac Mountain, Southwest Harbor
Eastern terminus of SR 233
Mount Desert115.04185.14 
 
SR 198 south (Harborside Road) – Northeast Harbor
Southern terminus of SR 198 concurrency
119.31192.01 
 
SR 233 east (Eagle Lake Road) – Bar Harbor
Western terminus of SR 233
120.67194.20  
 
SR 102 / SR 198 north (Main Street) – Ellsworth, Somesville, Southwest Harbor
Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "MaineDOT Public Map Viewer". Maine Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "Acadia All-American Road". United States Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  3. ^ "Two new roundabouts at Interstate 95 exit 113 open in north Augusta". Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel. 2013-10-28. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
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