Maine State Route 703

SR 703 begins at an at-grade intersection with Main Street (US 1/SR 9) just north of the Scarborough town line. Heading westbound, the highway meets the northbound Scarborough Connector at Exit N, which connects to I-295 north and Broadway. After crossing under I-295, Exit G connects directly to The Maine Mall and Maine Mall Rd. The highway terminates at a diamond interchange at the Maine Turnpike as of 5 October 2022, which used to be a trumpet interchange prior to the reconfiguration of Exit 45.[2]

There are four lettered exits heading eastbound: Exit J serves The Maine Mall via Maine Mall Rd / Payne Rd, Exit E connects directly to I-295 north, Exit A connects to Broadway in South Portland, and Exit S connects with the southbound Scarborough Connector, which carries traffic towards US 1/SR 9 in downtown Scarborough.

The Maine Turnpike Approach Road has existed in some form since the Maine Turnpike first opened to traffic in 1947. Various improvements and upgrades, including the construction of the southern section of I-295 in 1971, have resulted in the modern freeway that exists today. The SR 703 number was first introduced in official correspondence in 2004 and was later made an official (albeit unsigned) designation.[3]

On October 5, 2022, exit 45 on the Maine Turnpike was reconfigured from a trumpet interchange into a diamond interchange.[2] The road was renamed in June 2023 to Samantha Smith Way in honor of Manchester activist Samantha Smith.[4]

The Maine Turnpike Authority has proposed constructing a toll road, called the Gorham Connector, to connect SR 703 to SR 114 where it intersects with the Gorham Bypass road, for the purpose of relieving chronic traffic congestion on SR 22 and SR 114. The six mile road would have an interchange at Route 22 and at Running Hill Road in Scarborough, with an estimated toll of $1.50. [5] It is estimated to cost as much as $237 million. The Maine Legislature has limited the bond capacity of the MTA for constructing such a road to $150 million, but other Turnpike revenues can go towards such a project. [6][7] The Portland City Council passed a resolution opposing construction of the road, citing climate change; the four communities the route will pass through, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, and Gorham, have all preliminarily approved it. [8]

Exits are listed in order from east to west as mileposts increase in that direction. The entire route is in South Portland, Cumberland County.

mi[1]	km	Destinations	Notes
0.00	0.00	US 1 / SR 9 (Main Street) – South Portland, Scarborough	At-grade intersection
0.74	1.19	I-295 north – Portland	Westbound exit and entrance, unsigned SR 701 north
		Scarborough Connector — Scarborough, Old Orchard	Eastbound exit and entrance, unsigned SR 701 south
1.01	1.63	Broadway — South Portland	Eastbound exit/westbound entrance
1.24	2.00	I-295 north – Portland	No westbound exit
1.66	2.67	To SR 114 / Maine Mall Road – Jetport
1.91	3.07	I-95 / Maine Turnpike – Kittery, Boston, Lewiston, Augusta	Entrance toll; exit 45 on I-95
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access        Tolled