Question: Why is Route 24 as smooth as I-95 while Route 123 is riddled with bumps, cracks and potholes? While riding in an ambulance recently on 123, I felt every bump. Why such a difference between two state highways in the same town?
Ted Lindsey, Harpswell Neck
Answer: The difference mostly comes down to timing, according to Maine Department of Transportation spokesperson Andrew Gobeil.
The section of State Route 24 between Mountain Road and the Brunswick town line was resurfaced in 2022, he said. By contrast, State Route 123 and the southern portion of Route 24 were last paved in 2020.
How long a road stays smooth depends on a mix of factors, Gobeil said, including the type and volume of traffic and the weight of vehicles using it. In Maine’s climate, which can be especially hard on pavement, a new surface gradually breaks down over several years under those combined stresses.
Both Route 123 and the southern section of Route 24 are classified as “Priority 4” roads in the Department of Transportation system, according to Gobeil. These lower-volume routes are usually scheduled for repaving about once every seven years, though crews repair potholes and other damage as needed year-round.
That means drivers shouldn’t expect a freshly paved ride on Route 123 again for a couple more years. The next round of resurfacing work is tentatively scheduled for 2027, Gobeil said, when it will receive what’s called a “light capital paving” treatment.
The department publishes a three-year work plan on its website that lists upcoming paving and maintenance projects across the state. The agency’s online map viewer also provides details about when roads were last paved, their priority level, and what type of work is planned.
For now, Route 24 may feel closer to an interstate, while Route 123 is simply closer to its next turn in the rotation.
J. Craig Anderson, Reporter, Harpswell Anchor
Send “Ask the Anchor” questions to joliver@harpswellanchor.org.
