Bernard P. Rines is nothing if not persistent.

For nearly half a century, Rines, 85, pushed and prodded local and state officials for a highway bypass to ease traffic congestion in Gorham Village. Finally, the 3.4-mile roadway opened on Dec. 5, and Rines was honored as the first to travel the $28 million highway.

Now, to formally recognize his years of work, an effort is under way to name the bypass in his honor.

On Tuesday, the Gorham Town Council voted unanimously on a resolution to ask the state Legislature to name the new bypass the Bernard P. Rines Highway.

Rep. Jane Knapp, R-Gorham, is sponsoring a bill in Legislature to name the bypass, which is a state roadway, for Rines. Knapp said Tuesday that the proposal was sent this week to the Transportation Committee. A spokeswoman in the committee office said Wednesday no hearing date had been set.

Through 50 years, Rines, a Gorham native, actively participated in studies in the town’s pursuit to construct the bypass, which swings around Gorham Village with roundabout intersections at Route 114, Route 202 and Route 25. Matt Robinson, chairman of the Town Council, credited Rines with persistence, which led to construction of the bypass.

“Bernard kept the bypass fresh,” Robinson said.

Rines said Wednesday that he got involved with bypass talks on the municipal side as chairman of the first Town Council, around 1968. The town previously had been governed by a board of selectmen.

“I thought it was a good thing to do,” Rines said.

Town Councilor Burleigh Loveitt described Rines as a role model, who worked tirelessly for the bypass.

“His service on the Town Council was legendary,” Loveitt said.

Dick Boyman, who served with Rines on the Town Council, said that Rines attended and participated in every one of the highway meetings.

“We studied and studied it,” Boyman said about the bypass.

Boyman said Rines deserves the honor.

“If anybody was dedicated to roads in Gorham, Bernard was the man,” Boyman said.

In Tuesday’s council meeting, Knapp described Rines as an “exemplary citizen.” Rines is founder and owner of Ag Engineers, Inc., on Walnut Crest Road in Gorham. Knapp said she has known Rines for 26 years.

Boyman, who lives on State Street, said the bypass has diverted much of the truck tanker traffic from Gorham Village.

“We’ve noticed a big difference,” Boyman said about impact of the bypass.

And Matt Mattingly, owner of PineCrest Bed and Breakfast Inn on South Street, agreed.

“I see a huge difference,” he told the Town Council.

Rines Highway? Absolutely, says Gorham