are the roads ever closed for snow? (Portland, Presque Isle: house, DMV)

[woahmellie]

My husband and I currently live in Texas, but we're hoping to relocate to Maine within the next five years. My husband used to live in Indiana, and he said he's concerned about moving to Maine because it snows so much. When he lived in Indiana, they would close the highways and streets down due to snow, you could be ticketed or taken to jail for driving in those.conditions. Obviously this isn't something I've ever had to deal with, as I've lived my whole life in Texas, so I'm just wondering if that's something that ever happens in Maine...

[Clarissa2010]

Originally Posted by woahmellie

My husband and I currently live in Texas, but we're hoping to relocate to Maine within the next five years. My husband used to live in Indiana, and he said he's concerned about moving to Maine because it snows so much. When he lived in Indiana, they would close the highways and streets down due to snow, you could be ticketed or taken to jail for driving in those.conditions. Obviously this isn't something I've ever had to deal with, as I've lived my whole life in Texas, so I'm just wondering if that's something that ever happens in Maine...

One thing Maine is, is equipped for snow. The plows come out and the roads are cleared a.s.a.p.

In town locations are cleared first so good driving conditions come sooner if you're in town.


Sometimes it works like this, though:

Snow comes. Streets are plowed. All is well. You are happy.

You plow your driveway. All is well. You are happy.

Street in front of your house is plowed again. That's good for cars on the street.

But the street plow has pushed a whole lot of snow into your driveway making it necessary for you to plow the end of your driveway again. The stuff plugging the end of your driveway is apt to have icy chunks in it.

Sometimes that last two steps happen more than once.


The scenery is beautiful and you might go snowshoeing.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by woahmellie

are the roads ever closed for snow? ...

I have not seen that happen anywhere.

[kellysmith]

A couple years ago Route 1 from Presque Isle to Caribou was closed because of the incredible blizzard conditions. It was reported at that time that it had been over fifty years since a road was officially closed by the State Police in Maine. With that said, there are probably between a half dozen to a dozen days where you would not want to be on the roads because of the storm conditions...even though the roads are officially open.

[Submariner]

Clearly during a storm, when visibility is reduced it may be wise to avoid driving.

I think that most people stay home when it is snowing.

Some businesses may close early on days when it is snowing hard.

I have found that when it is snowing is the absolute best time to go to the DMV. The DMV does not shut down, and their waiting room will be empty. So you can go in and get your business done without waiting.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by kellysmith

A couple years ago Route 1 from Presque Isle to Caribou was closed because of the incredible blizzard conditions. It was reported at that time that it had been over fifty years since a road was officially closed by the State Police in Maine. With that said, there are probably between a half dozen to a dozen days where you would not want to be on the roads because of the storm conditions...even though the roads are officially open.

Maybe by the State Police but I've seen the Turnpike closed for snow several times over the years, though that would be by the Turnpike Authority, not recently. All in all it's nowhere near as cold and snowy in Maine as it was in the mid part of the 20th century. Our winters are timid in comparison to the 40' 50's and 60's. Even in the 70's when I was a kid you could count on plenty of snow for skiing, snomobile riding, snow shoeing etc. There was always tracking snow for deer hunting by the second week of November. The ski areas did not need to make snow as there was tons of natural snow. In the late 70's and 80's that changed and winters for the most part became less cold with significantly less snow. In the 90's it was worse. Several winters we did not even get enough ice to walk on, barely any snow, and we approached drought conditions in the summer. The pattern shifted towards more snow a few years ago but still it is not like it was. It used to be a tradition in the 50's and 60's to go ice skating on the river in Yarmouth on Thanksgiving day. There won't even be a skimming of ice on the river this Thanksgiving. None of the ponds have ice yet and tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's.

[wordsmith680]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

I have not seen that happen anywhere.

Yes, I know we're not Maine, but Rt 28 east of Marquette between Munising is closed due to poor visibility lake effect snow conditions several times a typical winter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-28_(Michigan_highway)

[Submariner]

I mis-spoke. Too late to go back and edit the post.

I have not seen roads in Maine closed due to snow. I have seen roads closed because of snow in California up above 10,000 feet. States with real mountains will do that.

[MaineLife]

I've lived in Maine for 10 years and I can't really remember the roads being closed. Of course, there are parking bans in the city when a storm is coming - but that makes sense. In Portland snow fall ranges somewhere between 30 and 60 inches. Last year most major storms missed us and I think we were snow free in mid-March.

I remember when we first moved here. It was March 5th and we were just wearing tee-shirts! But....its not like that every year!!!

[Mark S.]

I've never heard of roads being closed due to snow.

But now and then, because of snow, there will be a wreck (usually on I-95) that closes the road for a bit. As others have said, Maine is prepared for winter and does a really good job of keeping the roads clear. In the time we've been here, I only remember one storm where I felt it was unsafe to go out, and that was due to an ice storm, not snow.