SACO – Gov. Angus King led a ceremonial ribbon cutting Friday that set the stage for the opening of two new travel lanes along the most congested stretch of the Maine Turnpike.

After construction crews removed hundreds of orange barrels, the new third lanes between Saco and Scarborough were opened to traffic during the afternoon.

The work on the seven-mile stretch of the toll road was regarded as the most challenging part of the $135 million widening project and included the elimination of a half-mile dip that had been the turnpike’s most accident-prone section.

King joined members of the Maine Turnpike Authority and contractors in snipping the red ribbon on the northbound entrance ramp to the Saco Hotel Conference Center.

Two Zoom Buses then carried about 100 people on an inaugural ride to Scarborough and then back to the Conference Center for lunch.

Turnpike officials said this year’s work was completed within the budget and fulfilled their promise that motorists would be using the new lanes before Thanksgiving.

“At a time when good news is needed, the turnpike widening project is providing very good news,” said Samuel Zaitlin, chairman of the turnpike authority. “The people of Maine deserve to be proud of this project and they can be.”

Officials applauded the work of the turnpike’s contractors, including Shaw Brothers Construction of Gorham, which was praised for working aggressively and safely to widen the stretch of road that is used by more than 84,000 vehicles on the busiest summer days.

With the completion of this year’s construction, 15 miles have been widened and there are 15 miles to go. The entire stretch between York and Scarborough is slated for completion in 2005.