What is it ___________________

The "Highway Congress" is an annual trade show event sponsored by the Maine Chapter APWA. It is typically a gathering of 110+ exhibitors who trade with municipalities and public agencies. The Congress is held on the first Thursday in June at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds. The Highway Congress began in 1991 thanks to the efforts of Bill Shane, Town of Yarmouth, Bob Malley, Town of Cape Elizabeth and Alan Gove, HP Fairfield Co. Since then it has continued to thrive and expand and is now known as the premiere opportunity for public officials in Maine to gather and see the latest in equipment, supplies and services for the municipal sector. The show is known for the following unique features:

• Actual construction demos take place during the day (past demos include paving, StreetPrint, tree-felling, reclamation, road geotextile installation, tub-grinding, catch basin cleaning)
• Equipment from various vendors is available for "try-out" giving folks a hands-on chance to operate the latest model loader, backhoe, grader, etc.
• Equipment skill contests are held to let anyone get a chance to compete for prizes. Several backhoe contests are held by exhibitors as well as a skid steer contest
• The State Snow Plow Roadeo Championships are concurrently held during the morning on the racetrack next to the midway exhibits. The winners are announced at the closing ceremonies and the Chapter awards the winners round trip tickets to the national Snow Plow Roadeo held in the Fall in Colorado.

• MDOT Local Roads Center hosts "Time-Out for Training." Six training stations are set-up for visitors to go through covering topics like proper setup of work & traffic signs, how to compute pipe slopes/grades, proper erosion control practices and so on. Visitors who complete the 6 stations are then eligible for the prize drawing at the closing cermonies and multiple chances to win many exceptional prizes donated by the exhibitors

The Highway Congress is held annually at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds which located on Madison Avenue (Route 201) in Skowhegan, Maine. Travel directions are:

When traveling from the South:
On Interstate 95, take Exit 133 (formerly 36) and follow Rt. 201 north to Skowhegan - approximately 15 miles. The Fairgrounds are located on the left side of Route 201, next to Wal-Mart, one mile north of the center of town.

When traveling from the North:
On Interstate 95, take Exit 157 (formerly 39) and go west on Rt. 2 to Skowhegan - approximately 20 miles. In Skowhegan turn right on Rt. 201. The Fairgrounds are located on the left side of Route 201, next to Wal-Mart, one mile north of the center of town.


Several motels are located near the Fairgrounds. FMI call or check out:

1. Belmont Motel, 273 Madison Ave.
   1-800-235-6669
2. Towne Motel, 248 Madison Ave.
   1-800-843-4405

2011 Highway Congress

The 20th Annual Highway Congress

2010 Highway Congress

The 19th Annual Highway Congress

Link to 2010 Highway Congress Photos

2009 Highway Congress

The 18th Annual Highway Congress was held on June 4, 2009.

Link to 2009 Highway Congress Photos

2009 Highway of Congress

It was a sunny day at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds for over 900 attendees and 106 vendors who came to the 18th Annual Highway Congress.  Many thanks goes out to the Lions Club for cooking an all you can eat breakfast then turning around and barbequing 1300 chicken dinners for everyone on the Fairgrounds.  Maine Local Roads Center had people at 6 Time Out for Training stations that saw a near record turnout for completed training slips.
Our vendors brought new and interesting equipment to the show with the latest in ice and snow attachments shown on some great trucks outfitted for many towns in Maine.
	Public Works drivers and operators took advantage of the try out area in the infield to test new equipment.  Demonstration of “Sponge Blasting” to clean rust from truck bodies and wet cutting of concrete were hits of the show.  The Maine Antique Tractor Club dropped off 6 of their member’s best tractors for attendees to take a look at.
The Maine Turnpike Authority showed off the skill of their truck drivers by winning the State Snowplow Roadeo Championship.  Their drivers will represent the State of Maine at the National Championships in Colorado this September.  At our closing ceremonies we heard from the Town leaders of Skowhegan and Chris Lockwood of the MMA spoke on the upcoming vote on Excise Tax reductions.  Awards were given to new Roads Scholars and the Public Works Excellence Awards were presented to Large, Mid-size and Small Maine Towns.

2009 Exhibitor Info Online:  Exhibitor List

2009 Visitor Registration Info:
All municipal and public agency officials are welcome and urged to attend. Their is no admission fee for those who pre-register. Late registrations are $7 to cover lunch costs. Registration applications will be sent to all municpalities as well as members of MCAPWA in early May 2009 by the Maine Municipal Association. If you need to get visitor registration information call Joan Kiszely at the Affiliates Offices at MMA at 1-800-452-8786.

Photos & Map Link________________

Click on any above image for larger view.

Click here to download a map of the 16th Annual Highway Congress Layout at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds (Map downloads in new window)

2008 Highway Congress

Photos from the 2008 Highway Congress

2004 Highway Congress

Photos from the 2004 Highway Congress (opens new window)

2002 Highway Congress

The 11th Annual Highway Congress was held on Thursday, June 6, 2002 at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds.

Click here for Pictures of the 2002 show (opens in new window) .

Also held on June 6th at the Fairgrounds was the 10th Annual Snowplow Roadeo. The winning team was from the Maine Department of Transporation, Division 1 (Aroostook County). Full results are available for the Team Competition and the Individual Results are also available here online.

2001 Highway Congress

For 2001, the 10th Anniversary of the Highway Congress record crowds enjoyed an exceptional day as follows:

• Over 1,200 registered visitors representing 125 Towns, 24 cities, the Maine DOT, the Maine Turnpike Authority, etc
• 108 Exhibitors, click here for a complete listing of the exhibitors
  9th Annual State Snow Plow Roadeo Results
  
  
  

2000 Highway Congress

The 9th Highway Congress attracted 1,100 visitors with a record 117 Exhibitors in attendance.

• 8th Annual State Snow Plow Roadeo Results
• 2000 Highway Congress Photos
• 2000 Highway Congress Photos - cont'd

• For general information and photos on 1999 Highway Congress.
• For information and results on the 1999 Snow Plow Roadeo Championship.

• For general information and photos on 1998 Highway Congress.
• For information on the 1998 Snow Plow Roadeo Championship.

1994 Highway Congress

1993 Highway Congress

1992 Highway Congress