Blog

Jul 03, 2023

New Maine Intersection Traffic Light Coming and Residents Hate It

Things change over time, that's just absolute fact. Parking garages that used to be spacious with a huge availability are suddenly cramped and overloaded due to the size of vehicles now being

Things change over time, that's just absolute fact.

Parking garages that used to be spacious with a huge availability are suddenly cramped and overloaded due to the size of vehicles now being manufactured. And the same can be said for major roads and highways throughout time.

What worked decades ago doesn't necessarily work anymore because of the population increase, resulting in more eventual drivers and vehicles on the road. And that seems to be the problem in a Maine town right now.

In a recent post on the Town of South Berwick, Maine page on Facebook, a brand new traffic light is scheduled to be installed this October at the intersection of Route 91 and Route 236 in South Berwick, as ruled by MaineDOT.

You would think that would be the end of the story and even the traffic light would be more than welcome by the public if MaineDOT considered the intersection to be dangerous enough to convert from stop signs to a traffic light.

However, when the same post was shared on the Berwick, Maine unofficial page on Facebook, residents sounded off in opposition to the decision.

'They need to do something about DOWNTOWN! 91 AND 236 isn't an issue. The mess that is downtown is the real issue in Sobo!'

'The stop sign at the Cumberland farms in SB needs a light bad.'

'Solving a problem that doesn’t exist. The volume of cars traveling N-S in 236 vs those coming off 91 has to be 40/1. This will create yet another bottleneck on this route.'

'They need one at Portland and main unless the traffic cop is still there.'

'What about downtown at 236 & 4?'

Based on the reaction, it sounds like residents don't even see the need for a light at the intersection, especially since other reactions mention traffic is already backed enough in the area and a set of lights will just create an even longer delay.

However, we'll have to wait until late October to see the actual impact of the new traffic light or see if resident reactions cause a change in plans for MaineDOT.