The town’s Web site calls Gray “the Crossroads of Commerce.” With a little funding help from the Maine Department of Transportation, it will become easier for people to cross those crossroads.

A unanimous vote by the Gray Town Council Tuesday night was the finishing touch on a deal with the state for up to $80,000 in funding for a Safe Routes to School Project agreement. The money would be used for more improvements to sidewalks in the well-traveled Main Street-Shaker Road area, where many roads converge.

Al Palmer of Gorrill-Palmer Consulting Engineers Inc. said this part of the Clark Block project, started last year on the historic village building, was delayed last fall when bids came in higher than the available funding. This agreement, using the Safe Routes program to funnel money to the town from the state transportation department, will bring more intersection improvements aimed at easing pedestrian efforts to move safely across the busy village center streets.

The town, led by George Thebarge’s successful grant writing, has used Community Development Block Grants on the Clark Block. Thebarge works for Gray on planning issues on a contract basis, with his contract renewed for this fiscal year by the council Tuesday night. But, Palmer said, project specifications requested by the state prompted high bids and had delayed the planned sidewalk improvements

The improvements include a new crosswalk across Route 26, relocating a Main Street crosswalk and improving another crosswalk on Brown Street.

Improvements will also include “barrier-free ramps” to ease street crossing for the handicapped.

Palmer said bids will have to be sought once again, but town officials said no taxpayer money will be needed to make these improvements.

While this project does not connect directly to schools, Town Manager Deborah Cabana noted the Russell School is nearby.

No opposition was heard on the project, though resident Fran Monroe voiced her concern about how the agreement was brought before the council with little notice.