PORTLAND – Gov. Angus King, who has backed off from his 6-year-old idea to abolish the Maine Turnpike Authority, says last week’s resignation of its chairman is no reason to do away with the independent highway agency.

Julian Coles’ announcement that he would resign came hours after Attorney General Andrew Ketterer cleared him of conflict-of-interest charges but criticized his conduct for not disclosing his ownership of land near a planned turnpike exit.

Coles’ critics applauded Ketterer’s findings and said King should follow through on his idea to abolish the turnpike authority as outlined in his 1994 campaign book, “Making A Difference.”

“It’s a gross waste of taxpayers’ money,” said John Campbell, attorney for Scarborough Downs owner Joseph Ricci. “It has created a redundant authority that overlaps with the Maine Department of Transportation.”

King acknowledges redundancies in areas such as road construction and maintenance and says he’d still like to find a way to have the two agencies work together and save money.

Because the turnpike authority is authorized to borrow money outside the state’s debt limits, he said, abolishing the agency makes no sense.

“I was looking for ways to save money,” King said. “After coming into office I was persuaded to pursue a middle ground.”

King said he would continue to push the turnpike authority into closer coordination with the MDOT to gain greater efficiencies in things such as line painting, road maintenance, construction management and engineering. Abolishing the turnpike authority would require an act of the Legislature.

King said he would move to appoint a new turnpike chairman as soon as Coles officially resigns. King expects to name a replacement to the six-member board sometime next spring.

King said he did not seek the resignation of Coles, who has been on the turnpike board since 1989.

“I think [Coles] had a lapse in judgment that was unfortunate, but it shouldn’t obscure the outstanding work that he did for the people of Maine,” King said.