It was named for Lemuel Tukey, a tavern owner and toll collector for the Back Cove Bridge in the late 18th century.

[citation needed] In 2004, to clear up confusion, I-95 was redesignated to continue along the Maine Turnpike for its entire length.

I-295 was extended past the Falmouth Spur as a redesignation of I-95, to where it merges back into the turnpike in West Gardiner 42 miles (68 km) to the north.

[citation needed] The speed limit on I-295 on the section past Tukey's Bridge to mile 51 in Gardiner was raised from 65 to 70 mph (105 to 113 km/h) on May 27, 2014.

[5] The speed limit was reverted from 70 to 65 mph (113 to 105 km/h) for a length of 22 miles (35 km) from the section past Tukey's Bridge to Topsham on March 27, 2017.

Maine Senator Roger Katz, the sponsor of the bill, said "Very few people have heard of Dick Coleman, but as he drives around the state, he must feel a great deal of pride looking at his decades of work.

In such an event, electronic signs will be activated and flaggers deployed to direct drivers to use the appropriate emergency route to lead them around the closure and maintain traffic flow.

This system was first used when a section of highway was closed due to the death of a Maine State Trooper in an accident.