Maine Considers Adding Speed Cameras to I-95 Construction Zones

Lawmakers debate proposal to install automated speed control cameras in highway work areas to improve safety.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Maine Legislature is considering a proposal to add automated speed control cameras to construction zones on the Maine Turnpike (I-95). The measure, introduced by Republican Senator Brad Farrin, has bipartisan support and aims to improve safety in work zones after several recent fatalities involving highway workers. Under the plan, the Maine Turnpike Authority would run a pilot program until 2029 and install up to three sets of speed control systems in areas with active construction. Drivers exceeding the posted work zone speed limit by at least 11 mph would receive a $100 fine after an initial warning period.

Why it matters

This proposal comes in response to a rise in work zone crashes on Maine's highways, including the recent deaths of two Maine Department of Transportation workers. Proponents argue the speed cameras will improve safety, while critics raise concerns about privacy and the potential for revenue generation over public safety.

The details

The bill advanced by the Legislature's Transportation Committee would allow the Maine Turnpike Authority to partner with a vendor to install the speed camera systems. Drivers caught exceeding the work zone speed limit by at least 11 mph would receive an initial warning, followed by a $100 fine for each subsequent offense. The authority would also be required to have a Maine Department of Public Safety employee review each alleged violation to verify it.

  • In the last decade, Maine has seen more than 7,000 work zone crashes.
  • In 2017, a Maine Turnpike Authority employee, Jeffrey Abbott, was killed after being hit by a truck in a construction site on I-95.
  • Between 2020 and 2024, 16 people were killed in work zone crashes on Maine's highways.

The players

Sen. Brad Farrin

A Republican state senator from Norridgewock who introduced the measure to add speed cameras to Maine's highway work zones.

Andre Briere

The executive director of the Maine Turnpike Authority, which would oversee the speed camera pilot program if the bill is passed.

ACLU of Maine

A civil liberties organization that has argued the speed camera systems threaten privacy and prioritize revenue over safety.

Maine Policy Institute

A conservative think tank that has also raised concerns about the privacy and revenue implications of the proposed speed camera program.

Jeffrey Abbott

A Maine Turnpike Authority employee who was killed in 2017 after being hit by a truck in a construction site on I-95.

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What they’re saying

“All of our lives depend on it.”

— Jeff Stevens, Maine Turnpike Authority highway supervisor (pressherald.com)

“This is life and death for our folks.”

— Andre Briere, Maine Turnpike Authority executive director (pressherald.com)

What’s next

The Maine Legislature will hold floor votes on the speed camera proposal in the coming weeks. If passed, the Maine Turnpike Authority would launch a pilot program to install the systems in construction zones along the I-95 corridor.

The takeaway

The debate over speed cameras in Maine's highway work zones highlights the ongoing tension between public safety and civil liberties. While proponents argue the cameras will save lives, critics warn about the potential for privacy violations and revenue generation. The outcome of this legislation could set a precedent for other states considering similar measures to improve safety in active construction areas.