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| Maine State Route 112 | |
|---|---|
| State | ME |
| Route | 112 |
| Length mi | 19.4 |
| Direction a | South |
| Terminus a | Saco |
| Direction b | North |
| Terminus b | Gorham |
| Counties | York County, Cumberland County |
Maine State Route 112 is a state highway in southern Maine connecting coastal and inland communities between Saco and Gorham. The route serves as an alternate to U.S. Route 1 and SR 25 for local and commuter traffic, linking residential neighborhoods, industrial districts, and recreational areas near the Atlantic Ocean and the Presumpscot River. The corridor intersects several arterial highways and provides access to rail lines and municipal centers in York County and Cumberland County.
SR 112 begins in Saco near the Saco River and the junction with U.S. Route 1 and SR 5. The southern terminus lies adjacent to historic districts and corridors that tie into Old Orchard Beach tourism and the Fortune 100-scale retail clusters along Route 1. Heading northward, the highway parallels local rail infrastructure associated with Pan Am Railways and crosses industrial zones formerly linked to New England textile manufacturing and the legacy of American textile mills. The alignment passes near municipal facilities in Buxton and intersects SR 4, creating connections toward Bangor via regional arterial routes and toward Portland commuter corridors.
Continuing through semi-rural sections, SR 112 traverses landscapes influenced by glacial geomorphology that shaped the terrain seen in the larger New England physiographic province. The roadway provides direct access to recreational resources such as conservation lands associated with Maine Audubon properties and regional trails connecting to the Presumpscot River watershed. Approaching Gorham, SR 112 intersects with SR 114 and terminates near SR 202 and U.S. Route 202, integrating with corridors leading to Portland International Jetport and academic institutions like the University of Southern Maine.
The corridor that became SR 112 developed from 19th-century turnpikes and local townways serving the Saco River shipbuilding and mill economy connected to the Industrial Revolution. Early maps of York County and Cumberland County show paths linking Saco to inland market towns, later formalized under the statewide numbering system created during the 20th-century expansion of Maine’s highway network. During the automobile boom concurrent with national initiatives such as the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1921, the route received state designation to improve access between coastal ports and interior towns.
Over decades, SR 112 has been repeatedly adjusted in response to evolving transportation needs, including realignments near commercial development along US 1 and interchange improvements influenced by standards set after the Interstate Highway System construction era. The route’s proximity to rail and port facilities tied it to broader shifts in New England logistics, including freight consolidation under carriers like Pan Am Railways and corporate changes affecting industrial property use. Local planning efforts by municipal governments in Saco, Buxton, and Gorham have periodically proposed safety upgrades and multimodal accommodations to reflect trends promoted by agencies such as the Maine Department of Transportation.
- Southern terminus: junction with US 1 and SR 5 in Saco near the Saco River waterfront and downtown districts associated with Saco City Hall. - Intersection with SR 9 east-west connectors serving Biddeford and Kittery corridors. - Junction with SR 4 providing northbound access toward Bangor-oriented routes and southbound links to New Hampshire crossings such as Seabrook. - Crossing of state and local roads that link to rail-served industrial sites tied to Portland freight distribution. - Northern terminus: connection with SR 114 and proximity to US 202 and commuter routes serving Gorham and the University of Southern Maine campus.
Regional transportation planning documents and municipal master plans in Saco, Buxton, and Gorham have proposed potential upgrades to SR 112 to address safety, capacity, and multimodal access. Proposals include intersection redesigns consistent with guidance from the Federal Highway Administration and pavement rehabilitation schedules coordinated through the Maine Department of Transportation. Active discussions have referenced transit-oriented improvements linked to regional services such as Greater Portland METRO and potential trail connections compatible with initiatives by MaineDOT and conservation partners like Maine Audubon.
Planned stormwater and resilience measures reflect lessons from coastal events such as Hurricane Sandy and regional flooding episodes documented across New England, prompting municipalities to consider drainage upgrades and culvert replacements where SR 112 crosses tributaries of the Presumpscot River. Funding priorities may draw on federal programs administered through agencies such as the U.S. Department of Transportation to support bridge retrofits and complete streets projects accommodating bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Several numbered corridors intersect or provide alternatives to SR 112, including US 1, SR 5, SR 4, SR 25, and SR 114. These routes form part of a regional network connecting to principal destinations like Portland, Biddeford, Kennebunk, and inland connections toward Bangor and the broader New England transportation system.