PEABODY — The city will begin construction on a major overhaul of Central Street this month.
The city has received about $20 million in state and federal aid to completely redo a section of Central Street starting at its intersection with Walnut Street near Bill & Bobs and running through the intersection of Endicott Street and Route 114 at Wilson Square.
As part of the project, crews will add a new road surface, sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic signals, and modern landscape and design amenities to improve traffic flow, safety and accessibility for pedestrians and drivers.
Mayor Ted Bettencourt announced in a Peabody TV video released Thursday that some utility work related to the project will happen this month, but main areas of construction will get underway in April.
Work is expected to be completed in 2027.
“That duration is longer than anything we would like,” Bettencourt said in the video.
But there will be breaks in construction while the project is ongoing. Work will only be done between the spring and fall seasons, he said.
“The portion of the project that will most disrupt vehicle traffic is the first half, for much of the later stages of work will take place on the side of the road and traffic will be able to flow freely,” Bettencourt said.
Peabody police officers will redirect traffic as needed and road construction will take place in increments, leaving most parts of Central Street open while crews work.
The cost of the project is mostly covered by government aid. The city is paying about $750,000 for some legal services and design work and another roughly $4 million to $5 million for the replacement of a main water line that runs down Central Street, Bettencourt told The Salem News Friday.
The cost of the water main was originally estimated to be $3 million. Bettencourt will request funding from the City Council for this portion of the work in April, he said.
Bettencourt’s office and the Peabody Police Department will regularly release updates on the project through social media, the city’s website, CodeRED alerts and the Peabody ConnectApp, along with real-time traffic conditions on Central Street as work continues.
“Folks, this is going to be a tough project. There’s no denying it…” Bettencourt said in the video. “Once finished, the new Central Street will be a huge improvement for Peabody residents. I’m so excited to see the final project, but we have a lot of work ahead of us.”
To learn more information about the project or ask questions about the work, call Bettencourt’s office at 978-538-5700.
Contact Caroline Enos at [email protected].