Westbrook City Council withdraws support of Gorham Connector

This comes less than 2 weeks after the Turnpike Authority handed over control to Maine DOT

This comes less than 2 weeks after the Turnpike Authority handed over control to Maine DOT

This comes less than 2 weeks after the Turnpike Authority handed over control to Maine DOT

The Westbrook City Council has now withdrawn the city's support for the proposed Gorham Connector project.

Monday's unanimous vote comes months after the Scarborough Town Council withdrew its support for the controversial project in October.

It also comes after the Maine Turnpike Authority asked MaineDOT earlier this month to take over as the lead agency looking at ways to ease congestion in areas west of Portland.

One significant factor to opposition of the project in Westbrook was the impacts the connector would have on Smiling Hill Farm. The route proposed by the MTA would claim 45 acres of woodlands and farmland on the property.

"It was clear to the commission that a highway through Smiling Hill Farm was not aligned with our values or our mission," said Paul Drinan, Chair of the Westbrook Recreation and Conservation Commission and Active Transportation Director for the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.

As part of their work, MaineDOT will review past mobility studies — including recent efforts involving a proposed Gorham Connector — and update them to reflect current commuting patterns, community growth trends and land use developments.

MaineDOT says it will work with everyone involved and impacted, including those who would be affected by traffic diverted to local roads.

Their process will include assessing the benefits and limitations of modifying existing transportation infrastructure.

The study is expected to be finished sometime in 2026.