LEWISTON, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — The Maine Turnpike Authority is introducing the state's first single-point urban interchange (SPUI) to Lewiston.
The SPUI — pronounced "spooey" — is a major change to Lewiston's exit 80. The $18 million project realigns the interchange's traditional four on-and-off-ramps and two intersections into a single intersection where traffic is controlled by a one set of traffic signals.
The change allows left turns to be made simultaneously under the turnpike bridge. The goal behind this more compact design is to open up adjoining land for economic development and improve traffic flow.
The project is almost finished, and the new SPUI is set to open on Oct. 14.