Confusing Intersection in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, Could Get Fixed

There's an intersection in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, that not just tourists get tripped up on.

When you get off the turnpike and take I-195 to Old Orchard Beach, that road ends and turns into Ocean Park Road. You follow that to an intersection called the 'Halfway Intersection' according to WMTW. It's a crazy intersection where 5 roads converge.

Godan Draskovic who lives near that intersection in Old Orchard Beach told WMTW,

In the summer, there is big, big, big traffic and a big problem.

That's a resident. Imagine being a tourist and trying to figure that intersection out. I've been there many a time. Usually, I'm getting off I-195 and taking a right and it's a piece of cake. But coming back through there and taking a left from Old Orchard Beach Road is a real bear.

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Are there a lot of crashes at this weird Old Orchard Beach, Maine, intersection?

Yes! According to WMTW, the Maine Department of Transportation classifies that intersection as a "high crash" location, with 27 crashes over three years between 2019 and 2021. It's because the problems start at the Route 1 exits from 1-195 in Saco. Both of those off-ramps to Route 1 are major crash areas also, with 52 crashes during the same period.

How are they going to fix this crazy Old Orchard Beach, Maine, intersection?

Town officials in both Old Orchard Beach and Saco know that the intersection needs attention and they are trying to make it safer. They are looking at traffic lights, lower speed limits, and a rotary (or roundabout) at the Halfway Intersection. The rotary makes the most sense, but it's expensive with a $16 million price tag. Plus, it would take away parking!

So far they are just in the talking stage, but stay tuned.