GRAY – 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 today 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 today. 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 tie-ups 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 the 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.