Maine State Route 101
Encyclopedia
State Route 101 is a short state highway
in extreme southern Maine
. It follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, signed as south–north. Route 101 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 1 in Kittery, and runs northwest to the New Hampshire
state line, where it continues as Gulf Road, an unnumbered local road in Dover
towards New Hampshire Route 4
.
. Route 101 enters the southern tip of South Berwick
and intersects with Route 236. Route 101 continues a short distance northwest before crossing the Piscataqua River
into Dover, New Hampshire
. Upon crossing into New Hampshire, Route 101 ends and the road continues as unnumbered Gulf Road. Motorists following this road west will soon come across signage leading to New Hampshire Route 4 towards downtown Dover. No advance signage exists in the reverse direction, with Gulf Road simply transitioning to Route 101 upon crossing into Maine.
were still in place. Former Route 101 ran between Augusta and Rockland, from NEI 20 (now U.S. Route 201
) to NEI 1 (now U.S. Route 1). When the New England road system was removed, Route 101 was redesignated as State Route 17 and the number remained out of use until 1940.
The current Route 101 was first designated in 1940, with the initial stretch following the modern alignment from Kittery to South Berwick, where it ended at State Route 103, near the current intersection with Route 236. The short extension to the state line was added in 1957, and the route has stood since.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in extreme southern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. It follows a southeast-northwest trajectory, signed as south–north. Route 101 begins at an intersection with U.S. Route 1 in Kittery, and runs northwest to the New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state line, where it continues as Gulf Road, an unnumbered local road in Dover
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
towards New Hampshire Route 4
New Hampshire Route 4
New Hampshire Route 4 is a long state highway located in eastern Strafford County, New Hampshire. The southwestern terminus of the route is at New Hampshire Route 9 and New Hampshire Route 108 in downtown Dover. The northeastern terminus is at the Maine state line in Rollinsford.The southern...
.
Route description
Route 101 begins in the south at an intersection with US-1 in Kittery, just northeast of its intersection with State Route 236, where US-1 Bypass meets its northern end. Near this intersection is the Exits 2 and 3 interchanges from the Maine Turnpike. The route heads northwest, intersecting local roads as it passes east of the town of EliotEliot, Maine
Eliot is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 6,204 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area....
. Route 101 enters the southern tip of South Berwick
South Berwick, Maine
South Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,220 at the 2010 census. South Berwick is home to Berwick Academy, a private, co-educational university-preparatory day school founded in 1791...
and intersects with Route 236. Route 101 continues a short distance northwest before crossing the Piscataqua River
Piscataqua River
The Piscataqua River, in the northeastern United States, is a long tidal estuary formed by the confluence of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco rivers...
into Dover, New Hampshire
Dover, New Hampshire
Dover is a city in Strafford County, New Hampshire, in the United States of America. The population was 29,987 at the 2010 census, the largest in the New Hampshire Seacoast region...
. Upon crossing into New Hampshire, Route 101 ends and the road continues as unnumbered Gulf Road. Motorists following this road west will soon come across signage leading to New Hampshire Route 4 towards downtown Dover. No advance signage exists in the reverse direction, with Gulf Road simply transitioning to Route 101 upon crossing into Maine.
History
The Route 101 number existed as early as 1925, when New England Interstate RoutesNew England Interstate Routes
The New England road marking system was an interstate system of marked numbered routes in New England. The routes were marked by a yellow rectangular shield with black numbers and border. Many shields were painted on telephone poles...
were still in place. Former Route 101 ran between Augusta and Rockland, from NEI 20 (now U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201
U.S. Route 201 is a spur of U.S. Route 1 in the U.S. state of Maine. US 201 begins in Brunswick. It follows the Kennebec River from Gardiner, Maine, to The Forks where it pulls away from the town and runs into the north woods. Route 201 ends in Sandy Bay Township, where it enters Quebec, Canada at...
) to NEI 1 (now U.S. Route 1). When the New England road system was removed, Route 101 was redesignated as State Route 17 and the number remained out of use until 1940.
The current Route 101 was first designated in 1940, with the initial stretch following the modern alignment from Kittery to South Berwick, where it ended at State Route 103, near the current intersection with Route 236. The short extension to the state line was added in 1957, and the route has stood since.
Junction list
| County | Location | Mile | Roads intersected | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| York York County, Maine York County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. In 2010, the population was 197,131. Its county seat is Alfred.Founded in 1636, it is the oldest county in Maine and one of the oldest in the United States.... |
Kittery Kittery, Maine Kittery is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,543 at the 2000 census. Home to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey's Island, Kittery includes Badger's Island, the seaside district of Kittery Point, and part of the Isles of Shoals... |
0.00 |  U.S. Route 1 |
Southern terminus of State Route 101. To .svg.png) I-95/Maine Turnpike, via US-1 South.To   US-1 Bypass/State Route 236, via US-1 South. |
| South Berwick South Berwick, Maine South Berwick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 7,220 at the 2010 census. South Berwick is home to Berwick Academy, a private, co-educational university-preparatory day school founded in 1791... |
State Route 236 |
|||
| 8.22 | Gulf Road | Northern terminus of State Route 101, continues as Gulf Road in Dover, NH. To  NH Route 4New Hampshire Route 4 New Hampshire Route 4 is a long state highway located in eastern Strafford County, New Hampshire. The southwestern terminus of the route is at New Hampshire Route 9 and New Hampshire Route 108 in downtown Dover. The northeastern terminus is at the Maine state line in Rollinsford.The southern... . |