New Turn Lane on Rt 202 in Manchester

Coming east through Manchester on Rt 202 headed toward Augusta drivers will find one less travel lane between Old Winthrop Road and Pelton Hill Road as of Thursday morning. According to the KJ, taking the place of one of the two eastbound travel lanes there now will be a center turning lane meant for left-turning traffic from both directions.

The section of road starting from near J&S Oil and running to Pelton Hill Road near the Augusta-Manchester line is scheduled to be paved at night this week. Overnight Wednesday into Thursday, new striping will be applied indicating the new lane usage, changing what is now one of two eastbound travel lanes into the center turning lane for both directions. The work is expected to be complete by the morning commute Thursday.

It is to reduce traffic accidents. There were 31 crashes on the stretch of road over a three-year period ending in 2014. (centralmaine.com)