Your Dec. 1-2 editorial on the renumbering of Interstate 95 from Kittery to Houlton was one of the most illogical viewpoints I have ever read from an editorial board.

It’s hard to believe you would suggest such a backward numbering scheme of Exit 1 in Houlton and Exit 300 or so in Kittery. Your reasoning that the proposed numbering from 1 to 300 from south to north would make drivers entering from New Hampshire feel that Bangor and Houlton seem so distant as Newfoundland may somewhat be true but, would a driver feel any different when he has to drive from Exit 300 to Exit one. It’s still 300 miles whether you count down or up.

Then you state several other reasons that north-to-south numbering would “be a regular reminder to residents … that would help to reduce the ‘two Maines’ problem, and that tourists would realize that Maine stretches a long way.” And lastly, you state that if Houlton could serve as Exit one then, “renumbering could begin again once I-95 is properly completed to Aroostook County.”

I guess that means you are suggesting Fort Kent would become the new Exit one and that Houlton would then become Exit 99 and every exit to the south to Kittery would change again. Somehow I think that business owners, mapmakers, and the Department of Transportation would react quite negatively to those costs.

Let’s follow the common sense approach and keep the numbering from south to north as the DOT and the Legislature have already planned to do after they receive federal approval.

Pete Coughlan

Randolph