Some of the estimated 80,000 participants in this summer’s first of three annual appearances of the National Folk Festival in Bangor may have lingered at the Gomez memorial to eat some ethnic foods or to seek the cool shade of the nearby trees. Some may have taken a few seconds to read the memorial and to realize that their visit to this scenic waterfront was preceded by the visit of a European nearly 500 years earlier.

While the shore lands of the Penobscot River and Kenduskeag Stream have changed beyond recognition and beyond belief since the Gomez visit, the river and stream themselves remain much the same and they still perform the vital function of carrying water from huge expanses of the Maine uplands to the Atlantic Ocean, and carrying the coastal traveler deep into the interior. First there were the canoes of the original native seasonal visitors, then, in 1525, the Spanish caravel under the command of Estevan Gomez, then the 1609 visit of Samuel de Champlain, the first white settlers in the 1700s, the U.S. and British navies in the late 18th century, the lumber-carrying sailing vessels of the 19th century, the steam-powered Boston Boats of the late 19th and early 20th century, the coastal tankers and fuel barges which still visit the ports of the Penobscot, and the multitude of pleasure craft and touring vessels which frequent the river each summer and, most recently, a commercial cruise ship. The Penobscot and its tributaries always have been the lifeblood of human activity along the shores of the Penobscot and deep into the hinterlands.

The commercial and passenger travel on the Penobscot has, for centuries, formed the basis for the development of the economy and society of Bangor and the Penobscot Valley. As the region’s economic and social contacts spread beyond the Penobscot Valley into the uplands and other river valleys, the river routes proved too circuitous and too slow, so overland routes were added to expand the growth of economic and social relationships. These routes were first traveled by horseback, wagon and stagecoach, later by motor vehicles. The early rugged overland trails eventually became the routes of highways and railroads, and they facilitated travel and commerce between Maine’s north-south waterways and connected to growing commercial centers in southern New England and the Maritime Provinces. Later more tortuous overland routes developed to connect Maine towns and cities to states and provinces to the west. Rugged mountains between the north-south river valleys made east-west travel difficult. Although a Canadian-built railroad and one major U.S. route (2) and one state route (27) did make it possible to connect with markets in the other northern New England states, upstate New York and central Canada. One state route (9) connected to the population centers of New Brunswick and beyond into Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Improvements to the east-west routes during the 20th century made commercial and pleasure travel possible between Maine and its neighbors to the east and west, but traversing these winding and mountainous narrow roads has been slow and often hazardous. These unfavorable conditions have limited the efficient movement of goods and people throughout a region that otherwise is well located and well developed to integrate into a vital economic community. In the whole region of northern New England, northern New York and eastern Canada, only Ontario and southern New York and eastern Canada, only Ontario and southern Quebec have prospered on a level similar to their nations as a whole, because they are well connected to each other by modern highways. Much of the lagging economic development of the rest of the region can be traced to the difficult, slow and less then safe travel conditions which have inhabited east-west commercial and tourism travel in the region. Recent and planned improvements of State Route 9 and U.S. Route 2 and 27 will improve travel conditions, increase commercial traffic and make for easier travel among the affected areas of Maine and its neighbors.

The plans to improve east-west travel in Maine and its neighboring states and provinces must continue at an increased pace, if the economic potential of the entire region is to be realized within our lifetime and that of our children. In the two decades after World War II, the Maine Turnpike was built, and the Interstate Highway system came to Maine during the following two decades. These modern, safe, high-speed highways brought Maine commerce into the 20th century before its end, but, unfortunately, progress in travel improvements has been slow for the last quarter century. Route 9 has been dramatically improved from its former condition as a paved-over trail, but it still lacks description as a safe high-speed highway in many areas, as does U.S. Route 2. Route 27 is, at best, a scenic and leisurely drive, not a highway that encourages growth in tourism and commerce.

At the current pace of highway construction in Maine, it will be well into the second quarter of the 21st century before the east-west routes are brought up to today’s highway standards. By then the quality of travel in the other states and provinces will have progressed well beyond today’s standards, and Maine’s highway connections will still be a quarter century behind – as will the economic condition of Maine’s eastern, northern and western counties.

While Maine has many investment needs for its people and infrastructure, many of these investment needs are symptomatic of a less than robust statewide economy. Among the investment needs are a few that get to the core of the economic problem, and foremost is the need for a modern, statewide transportation system. Safe, efficient, high-speed travel that connects all areas of Maine and connects Maine with its trading partners and tourism markets to the east and west is what will bring the Maine economy up to national standards, keep its young here to enjoy the state’s treasured quality of life, and keep Maine relevant in the growing world of international commerce.

Stan Moses is a resident of Bucksport.