Maine Department of Transportation didn't communicate well enough the pedestrian tunnel in Woolwich was not to be painted, MDOT spokesman Ted Talbot said Friday. He said the agency will not block the mural Woolwich Central School students and adult volunteers have been working on and will not remove it.

If the tunnel under Route 1 ever has structural work, that could impact the mural, but otherwise, it will remain, Talbot said.

Painting was about two-thirds done when MDOT called Selectman and project volunteer Allison Hepler and told her it had to stop. Then a news reporter told her MDOT was allowing it.

The tunnel wasn't supposed to be painted because paint can affect inspections, but MDOT's communication of that was not adequate, Talbot said.