Maine State Route 103
Encyclopedia
State Route 103 is a 16.3 miles (26.2 km) long state highway
in extreme southern Maine
. The route is signed east–west, but forms a half-loop, with most of its eastern segment skirting the Piscataqua River
and the state border with New Hampshire
.
, near its intersection with State Route 101 just southwest of the border between South Berwick
and Dover, New Hampshire
. On the initial stretch, for about three-quarters of a mile, a driver on Route 103 East is actually heading south-southwest. The route meets the Piscataqua River, where it turns southeast to parallel the river south through Eliot and into Kittery
. In Kittery, Route 103 finds its first intersection at Dennett Road, a local road which provides a connection to Interstate 95 southbound into New Hampshire (Exit 1 is a partial interchange, with a northbound exit from and southbound entrance to I-95). Route 103 passes underneath U.S. Route 1 Bypass without a direct interchange, although the bypass is accessible via local roads near Oak Terrace. Route 103 continues east, intersecting U.S. Route 1 just north of the Memorial Bridge. Continuing to the east, Route 103 meets the southern end of its former alignment, Route 236. Access to I-95 North is possible using any of these three routes, as they converge just south of I-95's Exit 2 and 3 interchanges. As the Piscataqua River empties into the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Route 103 turns northeast, heading out of Kittery and towards York
. Route 103 enters the town from the south, crossing the York River
, near York Harbor, and ending at U.S. Route 1A.
in Berwick (along what is now Route 236) to its current alignment and on to York. In 1940 it was extended into York Village to, what was at the time, State Route 1 (a designation that was removed in 1949). Once stretching over 26 miles (41.8 km), Route 103 was truncated in 1957 to its current alignment, with the old 103 north of Eliot designated as Route 236. Route 236 was itself routed parallel to Route 103 south of the intersection, and terminates at Route 103 in Kittery.
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...
. The route is signed east–west, but forms a half-loop, with most of its eastern segment skirting 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...
and the state border with 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...
.
Route description
Route 103 begins in the west at an intersection with State Route 236 (which is itself a former alignment of Route 103) west 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....
, near its intersection with State Route 101 just southwest of the border between 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 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...
. On the initial stretch, for about three-quarters of a mile, a driver on Route 103 East is actually heading south-southwest. The route meets the Piscataqua River, where it turns southeast to parallel the river south through Eliot and into 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...
. In Kittery, Route 103 finds its first intersection at Dennett Road, a local road which provides a connection to Interstate 95 southbound into New Hampshire (Exit 1 is a partial interchange, with a northbound exit from and southbound entrance to I-95). Route 103 passes underneath U.S. Route 1 Bypass without a direct interchange, although the bypass is accessible via local roads near Oak Terrace. Route 103 continues east, intersecting U.S. Route 1 just north of the Memorial Bridge. Continuing to the east, Route 103 meets the southern end of its former alignment, Route 236. Access to I-95 North is possible using any of these three routes, as they converge just south of I-95's Exit 2 and 3 interchanges. As the Piscataqua River empties into the Atlantic Ocean to the south, Route 103 turns northeast, heading out of Kittery and towards York
York, Maine
York is a town in York County, Maine, United States at the southwest corner of the state. The population in the 2000 census was 12,854. Situated beside the Atlantic Ocean on the Gulf of Maine, York is a well-known summer resort. It is home to three 18-hole golf clubs, three sandy beaches, and...
. Route 103 enters the town from the south, crossing the York River
York River (Maine)
The York River is a stream in sout hiwest Maine, United States. It is tidal for over half of its length. It rises at York Pond in Eliot, and conjoined by brooks and creeks, feeds the tidal section...
, near York Harbor, and ending at U.S. Route 1A.
History
Route 103 has existed since the New England road marking system was in place, as early as 1929. It ran from Route 9Maine State Route 9
State Route 9 is a numbered state highway in Maine, running from the New Hampshire border at Berwick in the west to the Canadian border with New Brunswick at Calais in the east. State Route 9 runs a total of .-Route description:...
in Berwick (along what is now Route 236) to its current alignment and on to York. In 1940 it was extended into York Village to, what was at the time, State Route 1 (a designation that was removed in 1949). Once stretching over 26 miles (41.8 km), Route 103 was truncated in 1957 to its current alignment, with the old 103 north of Eliot designated as Route 236. Route 236 was itself routed parallel to Route 103 south of the intersection, and terminates at Route 103 in Kittery.