OLD ORCHARD BEACH — A number of the town’s walkways to the beach will more accessible, thanks to financial assistance from the Maine Department of Transportation.

The town received a matching grant from the MDOT’s Small Harbor Improvement Program to repair 14 boardwalks from the street to the beach.

MDOT will contribute $55,000 to the project, and the town will contribute $55,000 of in-kind services.

The Town Council voted unanimously to approve the agreement with MDOT on Tuesday night. Councilman Shawn O’Neill was absent.

The Small Harbor Improvement Program promotes economic development, public access, improved commercial fishing opportunities and works to preserve and create infrastructure at facilities in tidewater and coastal municipalities, according to information from MDOT.

Town Manager Larry Mead said he was “really excited” about the project.

“One of the things we hear from people who visit the beach is that access can be difficult sometimes (due to) narrow paths going in,” he said.

Mead said 11 of the 14 proposed walkways will be on streets off East Grand Avenue. He said only three of the proposed are on the west end of the beach as many of the walkways on that side of the beach are newer than those on the east side.

When the project is completed, four of the walkways will be handicapped accessible. The others, though not handicapped accessible, will be more accessible for those with mobility issues and will be wider, with a bar handrail on one side and a rope handrail on the other.

Work will be completed by the town’s Public Works Department over the winter.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.