Fighting ill-planned highway construction.

• Position: Maine

In Skowhegan, Maine, CLF is fighting a proposal to construct a highway bypass and interchange in the midst of a treasured community land preserve along the Kennebec River. The Maine Department of Transportation's planned relocation of U.S. Route 201 would bisect and utterly devastate a spectacular river corridor preserve, public park and boat launch that have been protected from development for over 50 years by the local Somerset Woods Trust.

Bypass routes are infamous drivers of sprawl. By creating a highway around a town, a bypass and interchange system opens up new areas for development. This project is worse than most, as it would condemn rare and irreplaceable land trust property to create room for sprawl. Adding insult to injury, downtown Skowhegan businesses fear the highway project...