GRAY (AP) – Skiers and other northbound motorists on Route 26 accustomed to a bottleneck in Gray will soon get some relief.

An $8.2 million connector that formally opens Thursday will cut daily traffic in the town’s center by 10,350 vehicles, or 40 percent, officials say.

Gov. John Baldacci is expected to be among officials who will celebrate the opening of the road at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon Thursday. The bypass, designated as Route 26A, will open in time for the evening commute.

The problems on the old Route 26 were apparent to all who use the road: truckers and commuters, along with skiers headed north to Sunday River and Mt. Abram.

Five major roads – routes 4, 115, 202, 26 and 100 – all converge like spokes on a hub in the village. The tieups at the intersection are bad enough that northbound traffic backs up to a Maine Turnpike exit, and sometimes onto the turnpike itself.

The new road that allows motorists to avoid to logjam begins at Route 202, just west of the turnpike interchange, and runs parallel to the turnpike northward before connecting to Route 26 near Gray-New Gloucester High School.

The project was completed seven months ahead of schedule, thanks in part to cooperative weather, said Shawn Smith, a project manager for the Maine Department of Transportation. “Everything kind of fell into place,” he said.

Motorists aren’t the only ones who’re pleased.

Gray residents hope that the reduction in traffic will render the downtown navigable to pedestrians, who’ve become accustomed to dodging cars. Town Manager Deborah Cabana said the change also can help Gray pursue its downtown revitalization efforts.

“It’s going to be a small part for us to reclaim our downtown for safety and business development and defining who we are. I think it’s going to be a good thing in general,” said Leo Credit, president of the Gray-New Gloucester Business Association.

Copy the Story Link