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Route 26 (New England)
Encyclopedia
New England Route 26 was a multi-state state highway
in the New England
region of the United States
. It ran from Portland, Maine
, north and northwest via Errol, New Hampshire
, to Lemington, Vermont. The number was assigned in 1922 as part of the New England Interstate Routes
(also known as the Dixville Notch Way), and, other than being extended from U.S. Route 3
into Vermont, the route has changed little since then. The system was disbanded in the 1930s, and Route 26 was replaced by individual state highways, each retaining the original highway number.
. State route logs show its southern terminus at State Route 77
in the western end of the city center at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and State Street (southbound SR 77). From there it heads northeast along Cumberland Avenue, then turns north onto Washington Avenue. In the field, Route 26's southern end is signed at the intersection of Congress Street, Washington Avenue, and Mountfort Street in the eastern end of the city center one block south of the Cumberland Avenue intersection with Washington Avenue. From here, it follows Washington Avenue northward and joins with Interstate 295
and U.S. Route 1 over Tukey's Bridge
, splitting off from that Interstate immediately on the other side of the bridge to continue northwest on Washington Avenue. Route 100 joins at Allen Avenue, and the combined Routes 26 and 100 immediately angle northward onto Auburn Street and continue together as far as the town of Gray.
From Portland, Route 26 generally parallels Interstate 95
(the Maine Turnpike) as far as Gray where it intersects with State Routes 115, 4, and US Route 202 and State Route 100 again splits off. The Turnpike begins to turn northeast at Gray, as does Route 100, but Route 26 continues north and then northwest. It crosses into New Hampshire near Upton. In Maine, Route 26 passes through Cumberland
, Androscoggin
and Oxford
counties.
. It meets Route 16 in Errol
and crosses into Vermont at the bridge over the Connecticut River
in Colebrook
, just after crossing U.S. Route 3
.
In Errol the road provides access to Umbagog Lake and Umbagog Lake State Park. It also passes through Dixville Notch
, a popular skiing area and home of Dixville Notch State Park and The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel
.
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 the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
region of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It ran from Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
, north and northwest via Errol, New Hampshire
Errol, New Hampshire
Errol is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 291 at the 2010 census. It is located north of the White Mountains along Route 16 at the intersection of Route 26...
, to Lemington, Vermont. The number was assigned in 1922 as part of the New England Interstate Routes
New 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...
(also known as the Dixville Notch Way), and, other than being extended from U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3 is a north–south United States highway that runs from its southern terminus in Cambridge, Massachusetts through New Hampshire to its terminus near Third Connecticut Lake at the Canadian border, where the road continues north as Quebec Route 257.In New Hampshire parts of US 3 are...
into Vermont, the route has changed little since then. The system was disbanded in the 1930s, and Route 26 was replaced by individual state highways, each retaining the original highway number.
Maine
Maine State Route 26 begins in Portland, MainePortland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. State route logs show its southern terminus at State Route 77
State Route 77 (Maine)
State Route 77 is a state highway in Cumberland County, Maine. It connects the cities of Portland and Scarborough, covering an approximate distance of .-Route description:Route 77 starts at Park Avenue, Formerly U.S...
in the western end of the city center at the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and State Street (southbound SR 77). From there it heads northeast along Cumberland Avenue, then turns north onto Washington Avenue. In the field, Route 26's southern end is signed at the intersection of Congress Street, Washington Avenue, and Mountfort Street in the eastern end of the city center one block south of the Cumberland Avenue intersection with Washington Avenue. From here, it follows Washington Avenue northward and joins with Interstate 295
Interstate 295 (Maine)
Interstate 295 is a -long connector in the U.S. state of Maine from I-95 in Scarborough to I-95 in West Gardiner.-Route description:...
and U.S. Route 1 over Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge
Tukey's Bridge is a bridge connecting the neighborhoods of Munjoy Hill and East Deering in Portland, Maine. It is part of Interstate 295.-History:Several bridges by the same name have existed connecting the areas....
, splitting off from that Interstate immediately on the other side of the bridge to continue northwest on Washington Avenue. Route 100 joins at Allen Avenue, and the combined Routes 26 and 100 immediately angle northward onto Auburn Street and continue together as far as the town of Gray.
From Portland, Route 26 generally parallels Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Maine
In the U.S. state of Maine, Interstate 95 is a long highway running from the New Hampshire border near Kittery, to the Canadian border near Houlton. It is the only two-digit Interstate Highway in Maine...
(the Maine Turnpike) as far as Gray where it intersects with State Routes 115, 4, and US Route 202 and State Route 100 again splits off. The Turnpike begins to turn northeast at Gray, as does Route 100, but Route 26 continues north and then northwest. It crosses into New Hampshire near Upton. In Maine, Route 26 passes through Cumberland
Cumberland County, Maine
Cumberland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 281,674. Its county seat is Portland, and is the most populous of the sixteen Maine counties, as well as the most affluent. Cumberland County has the deepest and second largest body of water in the...
, Androscoggin
Androscoggin County, Maine
Androscoggin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the county's population was 107,702. Its county seat is Auburn...
and Oxford
Oxford County, Maine
Oxford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine with a population of 57,833 as of the 2010 U.S. census. Its county seat is Paris.Part of Oxford County is included in the Lewiston-Auburn, Maine, metropolitan New England City and Town Area while a different part of Oxford County is...
counties.
New Hampshire
From the Maine-New Hampshire border, New Hampshire Route 26 continues to head northwest, then turns more east–west. It runs through the mountainous area of northern New Hampshire and is entirely within Coos CountyCoos County, New Hampshire
-National protected areas:*Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge *Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge *White Mountain National Forest -Demographics:...
. It meets Route 16 in Errol
Errol, New Hampshire
Errol is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 291 at the 2010 census. It is located north of the White Mountains along Route 16 at the intersection of Route 26...
and crosses into Vermont at the bridge over the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
in Colebrook
Colebrook, New Hampshire
Colebrook is a town in Coos County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,301 at the 2010 census. Situated in the Great North Woods Region, it is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River and home to Beaver Brook Falls Natural Area....
, just after crossing U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3
U.S. Route 3 is a north–south United States highway that runs from its southern terminus in Cambridge, Massachusetts through New Hampshire to its terminus near Third Connecticut Lake at the Canadian border, where the road continues north as Quebec Route 257.In New Hampshire parts of US 3 are...
.
In Errol the road provides access to Umbagog Lake and Umbagog Lake State Park. It also passes through Dixville Notch
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Dixville Notch is an unincorporated village, with a population of approximately 75, in the Dixville township of Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. The town is known for being one of the first places to declare its results during United States presidential elections and the New Hampshire primary...
, a popular skiing area and home of Dixville Notch State Park and The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel
The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel
The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel is a grand hotel and ski resort located in Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, United States. The hotel covers and features 95 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, an alpine ski area with 16 trails, five glade areas and a terrain park...
.
Vermont
Vermont Route 26 runs only 0.013 miles (about 69 feet (21 m)), and is the shortest state highway in Vermont. It runs from the west bank of the Connecticut River to Route 102, which runs along the riverbank, in Lemington.See also
- List of state highways in the United States shorter than one mile
- New England road marking system