BIDDEFORD (AP) – The left lane of newly widened sections of the Maine Turnpike and Interstate 95 will be off-limits to trucks as of Wednesday, the Maine Turnpike Authority said.

Commercial vehicles will be barred on the left lanes from the Piscataqua River Bridge at the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery through Portland.

The federal government paid some of the costs of the widening project. Now, the Maine Turnpike Authority must show the federal Environmental Protection Agency what steps are being taken to reduce pollution along the widened highway.

The new rule is designed to keep trucks from traveling at high speeds, which makes them emit more pollutants.

Truckers wanted the restriction dismissed, saying many commercial trucks are equipped with governors that keep them from going faster than 65 mph.

The restriction won’t apply to buses.

AP-ES-05-03-04 1309EDT