Trail Expansion
Close the Gap
Close the Gap is a 1.6-mile missing trail link in the Eastern Trail corridor. It connects the terminus of the co-located South Portland Greenbelt/Eastern Trail at Wainwright Sports Complex in South Portland to the start of the off-road Eastern Trail near Eastern Avenue in Scarborough, replacing a gap that currently requires on-road routing between the two segments.
Project Status
Updated April 2026 – Construction is underway on the 1.6-mile Close the Gap segment of the Eastern Trail, connecting South Portland and Scarborough and eliminating a key gap.
This project is being delivered in partnership with the Town of Scarborough and MaineDOT. Shaw Brothers will be conducting trail construction work from June 2025 to an estimated completion date of October 2027. Work will be completed in two phases:
- Phase I: Pleasant Hill Road to Wainwright Sports Complex (South Portland). Estimated completion by October 2026.
- Phase II: Nonesuch River crossing to Pleasant Hill Road. Estimated completion by October 2027.
Why It Matters
Close the Gap creates a safer, fully off-road connection between the co-located South Portland Greenbelt/Eastern Trail and the southern segments of the Eastern Trail. This project will complete trail continuity between Bug Light in South Portland and Thornton Academy in Saco.
This milestone reflects years of planning, design, permitting, and fundraising and builds on John Andrews’ original vision of a long-distance, multi-use trail through coastal southern Maine.
Recent Timeline
- November 2024: Final easements and agreements secured
- April 2025: Project bid and construction awarded
- June 2026: Construction underway
- October 2027: Expected completion
Partners & Support
This project is made possible through collaboration with the Town of Scarborough, MaineDOT, City of South Portland, Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), and the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
Lead supporters include Town & Country Federal Credit Union, WEX, IDEXX, Avangrid Foundation, Quimby Family Foundation, Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS), the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust, the Caiazzo Family, the Phillip Thompson Family, many generous individual donors.
Help Complete the Eastern Trail
The Eastern Trail is more than a path – it’s a growing connection between communities, people, and the natural world. With your support, this regional treasure can continue expanding into a safe, accessible route from South Portland, ME to Kittery, ME.
Public funding alone is not enough. Every mile we build depends on local support to match government investment and turn our shared vision into reality.
If the Eastern Trail has added value to your life, consider making a gift today or become a monthly donor to sustain our work over time.
Together, we can ensure the Eastern Trail remains a place where communities connect, nature is within reach near home, and future generations can explore, move, and commute.
Eastern Trail (2016)
Blaze the Trail South
Blaze the Trail South refers to an 11-mile segment between the southern terminus of the off-road Eastern Trail in Kennebunk and the future site of the Eastern Trail in North Berwick near Route 9 and Pratt & Whitney.
A 2021 Planning Partnership Initiative (PPI) between MaineDOT and the ETMD produced an initial feasibility study that focused on the two outer segments of an overall larger 11-mile corridor between Kennebunk and North Berwick. This non-contiguous section includes a 0.7 mile segment from the southern terminus of the Eastern Trail at Alewive Road to Alfred Road in West Kennebunk and a 2.0 mile segment from Perry Oliver Road in Wells to Pratt & Whitney in North Berwick.
Project Status
Updated April 2026 – MaineDOT is currently advancing the 2.7 mile non-contingous outer segments through engineering design and pre-construction planning like right-of-way and permitting. Planning has not yet begun on the 8.3 miles excluded from the initial feasibility study.
Why This Matters
Blaze the Trail South will extend the off-road Eastern Trail from its current end at Alewive Road in Kennebunk to North Berwick. This new connection between Kennebunk, Wells, and North Berwick will create a safer, more accessible corridor for walking, biking, and recreation.
It will also make it easier to bike to major local employers such as Kennebunk Savings Bank and Pratt & Whitney and support tourism, improved mobility, and enhanced quality of life across York County.
This project builds on the success of existing Eastern Trail segments and continues the long-term effort to extend the Eastern Trail south toward the Maine-New Hampshire border.
Recent Timeline
- 2021: Planning Partnership Initiative grant awarded
- 2022: Feasibility work completed on 2.7-mile priority segments
- 2023: $4M federal RAISE grant awarded to MaineDOT for construction of 2.7 mile priority segments
- 2023: MaineDOT begins engineering design on 2.7-mile priority segments
- 2024: MaineDOT hosts asynchronous public meeting on 2.7-mile priority segments
- 2025: MaineDOT begins right-of-way negotiations on 2.7-mile priority segments
- Future: Phased buildout of 2.7-mile priority segments
- Future: Preliminary engineering design on 8.3-mile corridor between 2.7-mile priority segments
Partners & Support
This project is made possible through collaboration with MaineDOT and the Towns of Kennebunk, Wells, and North Berwick.
Lead supporters include MaineDOT, the Eastern Trail Alliance, and many generous individual donors.
Help Complete the Eastern Trail
The Eastern Trail is more than a path – it’s a growing connection between communities, people, and the natural world. With your support, this regional treasure can continue expanding into a safe, accessible route from South Portland, ME to Kittery, ME.
Public funding alone is not enough. Every mile we build depends on local support to match government investment and turn our shared vision into reality.
If the Eastern Trail has added value to your life, consider making a gift today or become a monthly donor to sustain our work over time.
Together, we can ensure the Eastern Trail remains a place where communities connect, nature is within reach near home, and future generations can explore, move, and commute.
Over the River
Over the River is a critical 3-mile gap in the Eastern Trail linking Saco and Biddeford—the most densely populated section of the entire corridor. A 2021 Planning Partnership Initiative (PPI) between MaineDOT and the ETMD produced an initial feasibility study of this area.
Project Status
Updated April 2026 – The Over the River project completed its feasibility study in 2022. This work was led by the Eastern Trail Alliance and Eastern Trail Management District in partnership with MaineDOT and the cities of Saco and Biddeford.
The study estimated total engineering and construction costs at approximately $12 million (in 2022 dollars), or about $4 million per mile. This section of trail presents complex urban and river-crossing challenges, including coordination with rail corridors, utilities, and municipal infrastructure.
Advancing this project will require a combination of municipal, state, and federal funding.
Why This Matters
This 3-mile connection will complete a critical link in the Eastern Trail by connecting:
- 16 miles of continuous Eastern Trail to the north
- 6 miles of continuous Eastern Trail to the south (and 2.7 more in active development)
- Seven communities in total across the corridor
Once complete, Over the River will improve safety, accessibility, and regional connectivity for walkers, runners, and cyclists across Saco and Biddeford. It will also support local economic activity, tourism, and recreation across York and Cumberland counties.
Recent Timeline
- 2021: Planning Partnership Initiative grant awarded
- November 2021: Public Meeting #1 held over Zoom
- March 2022: Public Meeting #2 held over Zoom
- May 2022: Feasibility Report completed
Partners & Support
This project is made possible through collaboration with MaineDOT and the Towns of Saco and Biddeford.
Lead supporters include MaineDOT, the Eastern Trail Alliance, and many generous individual donors.
Help Complete the Eastern Trail
The Eastern Trail is more than a path – it’s a growing connection between communities, people, and the natural world. With your support, this regional treasure can continue expanding into a safe, accessible route from South Portland, ME to Kittery, ME.
Public funding alone is not enough. Every mile we build depends on local support to match government investment and turn our shared vision into reality.
If the Eastern Trail has added value to your life, consider making a gift today or become a monthly donor to sustain our work over time.
Together, we can ensure the Eastern Trail remains a place where communities connect, nature is within reach near home, and future generations can explore, move, and commute.
Closing the Eastern Trail’s Over the River Gap (2023) – ECGA
Berwicks to the Border
Berwicks to the Border is the final major segment needed to complete the Eastern Trail from southern Maine to the New Hampshire border. This approximately 18-mile corridor will connect North Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, and surrounding communities—linking Maine directly into the broader East Coast Greenway trail in New Hampshire and beyond.
A 2023 Planning Partnership Initiative (PPI) between MaineDOT and the ETMD produced an initial feasibility study of this area in three parts.
Project Status
Updated April 2026 – The Berwicks to the Border project completed its feasibility study in 2025. This work was led by the Eastern Trail Alliance and Eastern Trail Management District in partnership with MaineDOT, VHB, and the municipalities of North Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, York, and Kittery.
The study estimated total engineering and construction costs (2025 dollars) broken down by three study areas:
- Study Area 1 – North Berwick to South Berwick: The estimated total is $10,140,000 or roughly $1.3 per mile.
- Study Area 2 – South Berwick to Kittery: The estimated cost is $19.1 million ($1.7M per mile) for the long-term route.
- Study Area 3 – Berwicks to York: The estimated cost ranges from just over $10 million to $25 million. This equates to a range of $0.7-1.7 million per mile for the corridor for options that range from 13.0 to 15.6 miles long.
Advancing this project will require a combination of municipal, state, and federal funding.
Why This Matters
Berwicks to the Border will close the final gap in the Eastern Trail, creating a continuous connection from Portland to the New Hampshire border and completing the Eastern Trail.
This segment will:
- Connect 12 southern Maine communities
- Expand safe, off-road travel options for walking, biking, and more
- Improve regional mobility and access to jobs, schools, and recreation
- Strengthen tourism and local economic activity
Once complete, this section is essential to realizing the long-term vision of a fully connected, off-road Eastern Trail.
Recent Timeline
- 2023: Planning Partnership Initiative grant awarded
- April 2024: Public Meeting #1 held at Eliot Town Hall
- September 2024: Study Area 1 Feasibility Report completed
- November 2024: Public Meeting #2 held at South Berwick Town Hall
- May 2025: Study Area 2-3 Feasibility Report completed
Partners & Support
This project is made possible through collaboration with MaineDOT and the municipalities of North Berwick, South Berwick, Eliot, York, and Kittery.
Lead supporters include MaineDOT, the Eastern Trail Alliance, the Town of Eliot, and generous individual donors.
Help Complete the Eastern Trail
The Eastern Trail is more than a path – it’s a growing connection between communities, people, and the natural world. With your support, this regional treasure can continue expanding into a safe, accessible route from South Portland, ME to Kittery, ME.
Public funding alone is not enough. Every mile we build depends on local support to match government investment and turn our shared vision into reality.
If the Eastern Trail has added value to your life, consider making a gift today or become a monthly donor to sustain our work over time.
Together, we can ensure the Eastern Trail remains a place where communities connect, nature is within reach near home, and future generations can explore, move, and commute.