Maine State Route 196
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by MaineDOT | ||||
| Length: | 19.42 mi[1] (31.25 km) | |||
| Existed: | 1925 – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| West end: |
   US 202/SR 11/SR 100 in Lewiston | |||
 I‑295 in Topsham US 201 in Topsham | ||||
| East end: |
 US 1 in Brunswick | |||
| Location | ||||
| Counties: | Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Cumberland | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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State Route 196 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Maine. It connects Lewiston to Brunswick, following the valley of the Androscoggin River.
Route description
ME 196 begins at a junction with U.S. Route 1, which is a recent re-alignment change (previously it was aligned with U.S. 201). This new alignment is called the Brunswick-Topsham bypass and the first leg of the route is a limited access four lane undivided highway. Signs on I-295 refer to this portion as the Coastal Connector to avoid using the term bypass, as it was feared doing so would drive too much traffic from Downtown Brunswick businesses. It eventually reverts to a surface street (and major arterial) through Topsham but does provide a more direct route for travelers on U.S. 1 to access I-295 without having to go through Brunswick. It then intersects with U.S. 201 in Topsham (Main St.) and finally crosses I-295 where it has an interchange. It continues west and passes through Lisbon Falls, Lisbon, and then passed over the Maine Turnpike (I-95) where it has an interchange and enters the city of Lewiston. It is known as Lisbon St. in Lewiston (Maine's second largest city) and for its last segment before it ends is a divided 4 lane city street with westbound traffic on Lisbon St. and eastbound traffic on Canal St. It ends at Main St. which is multiplexed at this point as U.S. 202, ME 11, and ME 100 in downtown Lewiston. For most of its length (except the beginning on the Brunswick-Topsham Bypass and segments through Topsham and Lewiston) it is a two lane highway.