Residents may notice temporary vehicle-detection equipment at several locations around Ellsworth between October 13 and October 16, 2026.
The equipment is being installed by a consultant working on behalf of the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT) to conduct traffic counts. The information collected will help MaineDOT calculate Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) … essentially, an estimate of the average number of vehicles traveling a roadway each day over the course of a year.
These devices are being used to count traffic as part of MaineDOT’s statewide traffic-monitoring work.
Traffic-counting equipment is expected at the following Ellsworth locations:
- Maine Coast Mall area at the southern and northern US Route 1/Route 3 junctions
- Walgreens/Hampton Inn area near US Route 1/Route 3
- West Maple Street near Route 172/West Main Street
- Spruce Street near US Route 1/Route 3/High Street
- New Franklin Street near US Route 1/Route 3/Main Street
- South Street near US Route 1/Route 3/Main Street
- Merrill Lane near US Route 1/Route 3/High Street
- Wellby’s entrance/exit near US Route 1/Route 3
- L.L.Bean entrance near US Route 1/Route 3/High Street
So, if you spot some unfamiliar equipment along the roadway during those few days, no need to wonder …it’s just part of routine traffic data collection by MaineDOT.
