The city of Westbrook has withdrawn its support for a controversial proposal to build a highway connector to and from Gorham.

The city council voted unanimously Monday to withdraw support of the Gorham Connector. The city joined a chorus of criticism of the project, which the Maine Turnpike Authority has put on hold.

“We’re really thrilled that the city understands that a four-lane highway in a residential neighborhood does not align with our values,” said Paul Drinan, who chairs the recreation and conservation commission, an advisory committee to the council.

The authority initially presented the project as a way to alleviate traffic problems west of Portland. The proposal indicated a connector would be built from Interstate 95 at Exit 45 to the Gorhan Bypass off Route 114. 

But that would have required taking land, in some cases privately-owned property, in four communities – Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook and Gorham – to do it. 

Initially, officials in all four communities pledged support, but mounting pressure from property owners, most notably Smiling Hill Farm in Westbrook, have led to a change of heart. Scarborough notably chose to withdraw its support in October 2024.

The opposition led to the authority pushing back its timeline for work, announcing on March 6 that it was asking the Maine Department of Transportation to “take the lead” in more thoroughly studying the traffic needs west of Portland.

On Monday, Westbrook Acting Mayor David Morse said the city’s decision was based on the waning support for the project and the authority handing research work over to the department. 

Morse said that the city might reconsider a newer version of the proposal in the future but could not back the proposal as it stands.