Even at 55 mph, people will pass you. We drive faster, break the law, save a few seconds. Meanwhile, the old, curvy stretch of road is still there, because there are a few houses on it. It's a case study of what happens when you rebuild a road simply to speed up traffic, without asking why, or what price we pay for that convenience. We know from numerous studies that increased speed means increased danger, and it means increasing pollution.
Cars contribute half of Maine's air pollution.
Some weekends I can proudly say I leave the car in my driveway and simply do not use it at all. It's then that I notice our roads cater only to motorists. It's automobile apartheid. Pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists are all second-class citizens. So are roadside residents who want lower speed limits and slower, narrower roads.