In the recent report about the danger of Portland’s major intersections (April 6), no mention was made of the dangerous intersections along the length of both State and High streets. In an effort to save downtown from the impact of the brand-new Maine Mall, these two neighborhood streets were converted to one-way arterials in 1972 to speed traffic on the peninsula. It didn’t work and has had negative impact on residents, pedestrians and bicyclists ever since.
A recent analysis has identified several “high-crash locations,” including the intersections at the edge of Deering Oaks, as drivers speed to catch the lights before they change. Thankfully, no one has been killed — yet.
Friends of Deering Oaks and others have been advocating for the restoration of two-way traffic along both State Street and High Street for 19 years. In 2024, Portland City Council endorsed this change. It is in the queue of traffic projects mentioned in the April 6 article. It can’t happen soon enough.
Anne Pringle
President, Friends of Deering Oaks
Portland
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