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High gas prices are one of the reasons why Maine’s July 4 traffic is similar to last year, although this year’s rainfall is very close.
Driving in southern Maine, including the border with New Hampshire, has increased by a few percentage points, but in other tourist-rich coastal areas it has declined slightly compared to last year’s holiday weekend, according to new state data.
The Maine Department of Transportation, which measures more than 80 vehicles in the state, saw a total increase in traffic between Friday and Monday by 0.3 percent compared to 2021.
Traffic on the Maine-New Hampshire border has increased by 3.7 percent, and York County, a popular destination for out-of-state visitors, has seen an increase in parking spaces everywhere. But Portland, along with the rest of the coast – including popular tourist destinations in Boothbay and Mount Desert Island – has seen a slight drop in traffic compared to last year.
In Maine Terpik, the total amount of traffic collected over the weekend decreased by 1 percent compared to last year, said Rebecca Grover, a spokeswoman for the Maine Terp Authority.
Compared to 2020, when Maine was at the top of the CV-19 travel restrictions, the July 4 trip was significantly renewed, but it was raining in rainy weather. It had better weather this year but gas prices were higher, Grover said.
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“People are going out and more, but I think the price of gas probably keeps some people back,” she said.
Gas prices in Maine fell slightly last month due to falling global oil prices, but are much higher than a year ago. Average gallon gas in Maine fell to $ 4.93 on Tuesday, down from $ 5.09 in mid-June, according to AAAA. It was still much higher than $ 3.09 a year ago.
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