South end of US highway 201 in Brunswick, ME
Photo credits: Carter
Buchanan; Alex
Nitzman; me
The south end of US 201 has always been at its junction with US 1 in Brunswick.
However, the routing of US 1 has changed over the years, so likewise the location
of US 201's terminus has changed. We'll start from the perspective of northbound
US 1 (which actually heads more easterly through this area):
Buchanan/Nitzman,
June 2005
Today US 1 traffic curves to the left via a newer bypass. In that direction
there's an interchange with Maine Street (US 201 and ME 24) at the north edge
of town. However, left turns are not permitted from the offramps. So northbound
US 1 traffic still has to use old US 1 ahead (Pleasant Street) to get to US
201. A few blocks straight ahead we come to this sign at Maine St:
Buchanan/Nitzman, June 2005
Originally northbound US 1 continued by turning to the right here, and then
resumed eastward via what is now ME 24 (Bath Road). So the original south beginning
of US 201 was to the left on Maine St. If you turn that direction, there's this
assembly:
me, Oct. 2004
That's looking north on Maine. This used to be southbound US 1, which continued
to the left on Pleasant, so US 201 began here (perhaps the "TO" sign
once said "North"). But as I've said, US 1 traffic is now routed along
the bypass, which runs a few blocks ahead. Signage at that interchange looks
like this:
Buchanan/Nitzman,
June 2005
That's the current south beginning of US 201. Ahead, the first reassurance
marker is next to the lovely old Androscoggin River bridge:
me, Oct. 2004
Looking the opposite direction, there's an "End" sign for US 201:
me, Oct.
2004
That's looking south on Maine St; on the far side of the bridge is the actual
terminus of US 201, at its interchange with US 1:
Buchanan/Nitzman,
June 2005
Below is a view of the south beginning of US 201 as seen from southbound US
1:
me, Oct. 2004
Heading that direction, this exit is signed for US 201, because you
can turn right on Maine. But note how it's not signed for "Brunswick"
or south ME 24, because a left turn is not permitted. Traffic heading
into Brunswick would've exited to Bath Rd a couple miles behind the camera.
You can view my main
US 201 page for more information about this route, and for photos from the
north end.
Page (in its original form) created 02 December 2002; last updated
19 January 2007.
|