Scarborough Connector: Difference between revisions

| alternate_name = State Route 701

| map = {{maplink-road}}

| length_ref = <ref name="MaineDOT Map"/>

| terminus_a = {{jct|state=ME|I|295}} / Broadway in [[South Portland, Maine|South Portland]]

The '''Scarborough Connector''', [[Unsignedofficially highway|unsigned]]designated '''State Route 701''' ('''SR 701'''), is a {{Convert|1.77|mi|km|adj=on}} [[freeway]] located in southern [[Maine]] which connects [[U.S. Route 1 in Maine|U.S. Route 1]] (US 1) and [[Maine State Route 9|SRState Route 9]] in [[Scarborough, Maine|Scarborough]] to [[Interstate 295 (Maine)|Interstate 295]] (I-295) in [[South Portland, Maine|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-Interstate 95).

The SR 701 designation isand direction are only indicated on [[milepost]]s, which increase from north to south as opposed to the standard practice of increasing from south to north. All other signage refers only to the majorother routes to which it connects (I-95, I-295 and US 1). In lieu of exit numbers, SR 701 has lettered interchanges that are only indicated on gore signs and exit ramp signs.

The Scarborough Connector begins in the north as anexit offshoot2 offrom I-295 at exit 2south in South Portland. ThereExit isR, onethe only southbound interchangeexit, connects with the [[Maine State Route 703|Maine Turnpike Approach Road]] (unsigned SR 703) eastbound, which provides a connection to US 1 north and downtown South Portland. The freeway crosses into Scarborough and continues south for {{Convert|1.6|mi|km}} before merging directly 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. TheThere firstare two exits in the northbound exitdirection: Exit W leads to the Maine Turnpike Approach Road (unsigned SR 703) westbound, which leads to The Maine Mall and the Maine Turnpike (I-95)., A secondand exit M connects to Broadway in downtown South Portland. Following theThe Broadwayfreeway exit,then themerges freeway mergesdirectly onto I-295 north towards Portland.

The Scarborough Connector was originally designated as an Inventory Road, #072037, without a numeric designation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.floodgap.com/roadgap/me/r?703|title=Floodgap Roadgap's RoadsAroundME: Secret State Route 703|access-date=June 25, 2018}}{{sps|certain=y|date=July 2018}}</ref> 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 {{Convert|0.57|mi|km}} along the exit ramps connecting to I-295, bringing the highwayroad's overall length to {{Convert|2.34|mi|km}}.<ref name="MaineDOT Map"/> However, SR 701 mileposts posted in the field include the mileage between I-295 and Broadway.

Exits are listed in order from north to south as mileposts increase in that direction. Although the SR 701 designation does not officially extend north of the Broadway interchange, posted mileposts indicate mileage from I-295. {{jcttop|exit|state=ME|county=Cumberland|unnum=yes|length_ref=<ref name="MaineDOT Map">{{cite web|url=http://www.maine.gov/mdot/mapviewer/|title=MaineDOT Public Map Viewer|website=|publisher=[[Maine Department of Transportation]]|accessdate=July 1, 2018}}</ref>}}

{{MEint|exit

|notes=Northbound exit/southbound entrance;, exitramps 2 onbetween I-295 and Broadway designated as Inventory Road

|lspan=4}}

|notes=Northbound exit/southbound entrance, northern terminus of SR 701 designation}}

|milemile2=0.08

|notes=Northbound exit and entrance, unsigned [[Maine State Route 703|SR 703]] west

{{MEint|exit

{{MEint|exit

|mile=12.7734

|notes=SouthboundSouthern terminus, southbound exit/northbound entrance, SR 9 not present on signage from Scarborough Connector