#sacoriver — Public Fediverse posts

#Maine - New section of #EasternTrail opens 15 months early

by Katie Delaney
Fri, August 7, 2026

"A new section of the Eastern Trail is now open.

"It's the final link connecting Bug Light in #SouthPortlandME and downtown #SacoME. The 1.6-mile addition to the trail goes through Scarborough and South Portland. Now people can walk, run, and #bike along 16 miles of uninterrupted #OffRoadTrail.

"It's part of the greater #EastCoastGreenway, which goes from #Maine to #Florida.

"Bit by bit, gaps between paths are being filled until it becomes a complete off-road journey along the coast. The new Eastern Trail section is the latest step toward that goal.

"At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, South Portland Mayor Elyse Tipton said it's about more than just connecting trails.

" 'It's about connecting communities and fulfilling a vision that has been years in the making,' she said.

"The project was completed 15 months ahead of schedule.

" 'Which is something frankly just unheard of,' Tom Hall, the town manager of Scarborough, said. 'All the credit in the world goes to this group of folks that got together to really deliver a first-rate project.'

"Avery Seuter, from Wells, was eager to try out the new trail.

" 'First reactions, this is just gorgeous, like you couldn't have picked a better area to come through,' he said, walking along the trail."

[...]

"The executive director of the #EastCoastGreenwayAlliance said their next goal to get closer to completing the Eastern Trail is to close the gap over the #SacoRiver and down to #KitteryME."

Read more:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/section-eastern-trail-opens-15-155200326.html

#SolarPunkSunday #BikeTooter #BikeTrails #WalkingTrails #SpendTimeInNature #SpendTimeOutdoors #EastCoastUS #MaineTrails #RailsToTrails #MaineBicycleCoalition #EastCoastGreenway #AccessibleTrails

On the other side of the #SacoRiver is #PleasantPointPark ...

"If you like jumping off cliffs, this is the park for you. This 60-acre town park borders more than a mile of the Saco River.

"The river here must be very deep, because there are many places people have strung up rope swings from riverside cliffs. It looks dangerous but it must be okay since so many kids do it. On a hot summer day, this place is busy! (I have heard from a couple of people that unfortunately this place has become a haven for underage drinking. I didn’t run into many people mid-day during the week, and I have a high tolerance for scruffy trails!

"Both recommended the lovely Indian Cellar Preserve, on the other side of the river.)

"For me, the nicest part of the park was the southern side, where there are several benches and picnic tables by the river, as well as an old cemetery (and no rope swings).

"The interior paths are less used, so are overgrown. But they do allow you to make a loop from one end of the park to the other. Once you leave the quiet side and go to the cliff-y side, the ground becomes well trammeled.

"Although it’s easy to make your way through the #forests here, the paths here are blazed. There are many spots along the river that make good #swimming launch sites.

"Directions: From #Route202 in #BuxtonMaine, turn onto Route 117. Soon after turning, you’ll come across an old entrance to the park (it’s been around a long time), but you are not allowed to park alongside the street here. Continue up the 117 a little bit farther, and turn into Simpson Road. On your right will be a large parking lot."

https://mainebyfoot.com/pleasant-point-park-buxton/

#IndianCellarPreserve #LandTrust #HikingTrails
#SacoRiver #SalmonFalls
#MaineDOT #Maine #SouthernMaine #SalmonFallsBridge #MaineByFoot #WildlifeCorridor #SolarPunkSunday

On one side of the #SacoRiver in #HollisMaine is #IndianCellarPreserve ...

"This is a lovely 81-acre preserve by the Saco River, with great #WalkingTrails. All together, there are about 3 miles of trails here, as well as some #swimming spots. There is a promontory with a great vista of the Saco River and a little picnic table. This preserve seems to be less trammeled than its neighbor across the river — #PleasantPointPark — and also somewhat popular with #MountainBikers. The perimeter trail, which is about 1.6 miles or so, is very well blazed. The interior trails are less well marked and seemingly less used.

"There is also more information about the site at the #TrustForPublicLand.

"Directions: If you’re coming from #Route202 east, you will turn left after crossing the bridge over the Saco River from Buxton. Take a left onto Old Alfred Road, and the parking lot is immediately on your left. You’ll see a sign for the preserve, and some stone steps."

https://mainebyfoot.com/indian-cellar-preserve-hollis/

#IndianCellarPreserve #LandTrust #HikingTrails #SacoRiver #SalmonFalls
#MaineDOT #Maine #SouthernMaine #SalmonFallsBridge #Wildlife #SolarPunkSunday `

So, unfortunately, the town of #BuxtonMaine said "No," to the #PedestrianWalkway and the additional cost, and so did #HollisMaine (at #MDOT's urging). Having a separate pedestrian walkway on this bridge would make it safer for EVERYONE -- and a lot of pedestrians and bicyclists use the bridge, as it is the way to get from one track of preserved land to another, and also the areas where local teens swim! The traffic on #Route202 on either side of the bridge is always going too fast, and there's a lot of large trucks and SUVs. Widening the bridge is not enough! (And yes, speed limits should be strictly enforced in this area, which includes an ice cream stand and a local library)!

I should probably contact #MainersForSmarterTransportation and #BicycleCoalitionOfMaine and let them know what's going on...

Article from 2020, which shows the existing bridge and how much it's used by young people, as it is a popular spot in the summer!

Salmon Falls Bridge to be redesigned to deter jumping
The bridge between Buxton and Hollis has long been popular with youth who leap from it into the Saco River, but a planned upgrade should put a stop to that risky pastime and make it safer for all, the state says.

by Robert Lowell
June 1, 2020
Original story:
https://www.pressherald.com/2020/06/01/salmon-falls-bridge-to-be-redesigned-to-deter-jumping/

Archived version:
Hollis-Buxton, Route 202, Salmon Falls Bridge

On-Demand Formal Public Meeting for replacing the Salmon Falls Bridge on Route 2020 over the Saco River at the Hollis-Buxton town line

"The Scope of Work for this project consists of a full replacement of the Salmon Falls Bridge. The preliminary scope of work that was presented at the preliminary public meeting in 2019 consisted of a deck and superstructure replacement while leaving the substructure (piers and abutments) in place since that component is in fair condition as opposed to the deck and superstructure, which are both in poor condition. After further design review, it was determined that a full replacement is a better and more cost-effective option in the long term, with reduced maintenance costs and an overall longer lifespan. The new bridge will have 5' shoulders, which accomplishes the request as noted at the preliminary meeting of providing for better bicyclist and pedestrian accommodations."

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/483457df232143ba94cdbf9fe8173724

Hollis-Buxton, Route 202, Salmon Falls Bridge

On-Demand Formal Public Meeting for replacing the Salmon Falls Bridge on Route 2020 over the Saco River at the Hollis-Buxton town line

"The Scope of Work for this project consists of a full replacement of the Salmon Falls Bridge. The preliminary scope of work that was presented at the preliminary public meeting in 2019 consisted of a deck and superstructure replacement while leaving the substructure (piers and abutments) in place since that component is in fair condition as opposed to the deck and superstructure, which are both in poor condition. After further design review, it was determined that a full replacement is a better and more cost-effective option in the long term, with reduced maintenance costs and an overall longer lifespan. The new bridge will have 5' shoulders, which accomplishes the request as noted at the preliminary meeting of providing for better bicyclist and pedestrian accommodations."

https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/483457df232143ba94cdbf9fe8173724

Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System

Guidelines/Priorities for Sidewalks and Walkways
Introduction

"A 1.5-m- (5-ft-) wide shoulder is acceptable for pedestrians along low-volume roads"

Route 202 is NOT a low-volume road, by any means!

http://www.pedbikesafe.org/PEDSAFE/resources_guidelines_sidwalkswalkways.cfm

#IndianCellarPreserve #LandTrust #HikingTrails #SacoRiver #SalmonFalls #MaineDOT #Maine #SouthernMaine #SalmonFallsBridge