How to time commute from Winthrop to 95 South (Portland, Auburn: real estate, how much)

[Lilac Farm]

Hi folks,

Hope you can help me with a pressing problem/questions.

I'm thinking of buying a place in the Winthrop area. Problem is, I'll need to be able to get to I-95 north or south in Augusta for commuting.

This seems to be easy as pie on weekends, but I was up there on a weekday morning around 8:00 and holy moley, what a traffic jam heading east into Augusta! It was bumper to bumper.

So my questions are: is this a daily thing? And if so, does anyone know how much extra time you need to build into your commuting time when it's jammed? And...are there certain times in the morning and evening where it's easier to travel that route?

I confess I'm freaking out a little since I was just about ready to make an offer and now I'm wondering if it would be a huge mistake. These days, you can't afford to make a mistake you'll regret in real estate

Thanks so much for any advice.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

You know about Cobbosseecontee Lake, right? You have to go north or south of the lake to get to I-95. Going south you just drop down Rt 132 and get on in Auburn. However, the trip to I-95 north depends on the legislative agenda that day, how many large groups want to testify, the phase of the moon and the fact that most of the out of town visitors heading for the capitol are hopelessly lost. The best way to get on 95 north is to do it before the lobbyists and special intyerest groups get up in the morning. If you hit I-95 before 5 AM you are home free.

[Lilac Farm]

Hi NMLM,
Thanks for the extra info. The house I am considering is only about 7 mins from the I95 onramps in Augusta under normal circumstances, so taking the back roads to far-flung entrance points to go south wouldn't be my first choice, especially in winter.

Yikes. Portland might not be any worse as far as traffic jams! =:-o

[mainebrokerman]

Because there are thousands of state employees in augusta, the main arteries to and from augusta are jammed in the morning and between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, rte 202 east/west is one of those arteries
there are other routes you can go to get to the interstate (but it probably won't be quicker)

if i lived in winthrop, and was travelling north(from portland) on I-95 during "rush hour" id think of getting off on the sabattus exit- go up thru wales to monmouth and to winthrop
You can also (headin east) take a right in manchester at the light - this is pond road, keep going til you are in litchfield eventually coming out on rte 126 then take a right(west) towards the sabattus interstate ramp south

if i were heading south on I-95 and wanted to avoid the traffic jam, id think about getting off the waterville/oakland exit- go thru oakland south to rte 27 then go towards readfield, then winthrop
this may seem like a long-end-around, but i see daily the line of cars backed up trying to get on 202 in augusta from the interstate during rush hour


It all depends where you are going, another route id consider, if i were headin north is to get off on the gardiner exit, head west on rte 126 go about 6 miles til you are in litchfield take a right on hallowell litchfield road- go about 4 miles then take a left on the "neck" road that turns into the pond road that will take you to manchester, then take a left (west) towards winthrop

some of this may sound confusing- but having lived in the augusta area, i tend to avoid the rush hr traffic any way possible

again, there are alternate routes, but they may not be a time-saver-depending on where you are going

you can always try mapquest see what they give you for directions
any questions, feel free to pm me.

good luck! Winthrop is a very nice area, with nice surrounding towns, wayne, manchester, readfield, monmouth