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Maine Turnpike Traffic Heavy This Summer

PORTLAND, Maine - Traffic on the Maine Turnpike is busier than ever this summer.

"It's so heavy that we're having to interrupt our contractors who are doing paving and bridge painting," says Turnpike Authority Executive Director Peter Mills.

Mills says since the MTA prioritizes drivers over construction, it's had to send contractors home for the day on more than one occasion.

Summer is always a busy traffic season in Maine, but Mills says this isn't just seasonal traffic - it's also local drivers using the turnpike for short trips.

"It's delivery trucks, and it's tractor-trailers; it's every class of vehicle is up," Mills. "And that means there's a lot of stuff being moved in and out of the state."

Mills says that's a good sign that the economy is doing well.

The Portland Press-Herald reports that the turnpike is having its busiest year ever, and collected just over $60 million in tolls in the first six months of this year.

Nora is originally from the Boston area but has lived in Chicago, Michigan, New York City and at the northern tip of New York state. Nora began working in public radio at Michigan Radio in Ann Arbor and has been an on-air host, a reporter, a digital editor, a producer, and, when they let her, played records.