The next phase of the Central Street corridor construction project started this week.
There was preliminary work on the project in the spring and early summer, Mayor Ted Bettencourt said, but its first major stage will likely continue until the end of this year’s construction season.
The construction season for most projects in Massachusetts lasts from April 1 to Nov. 15, according to a report from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
With the onset of this part of the project, drivers should expect delays and possible detours, and always seek alternate routes if possible, Bettencourt said. Police details will be at the site of construction at all times to assist in traffic control and direct drivers to detours.
Bettencourt said the entire Central Street project is estimated to last until the end of the 2027 construction season.
This first major phase of the project will be to convert the granite culvert system, which the city estimates is from the 1890s, to a modern 3-foot concrete pipeline, Bettencourt said.
Construction began by Walnut Street and will be done in increments to limit detours and traffic buildup, and the city does not expect to close down the entire street at once during the project, he added.
Bettencourt said the city is spending $5 million on the project, which covered legal and design fees and the $4 million pipeline itself. The city also received $20 million from state and federal Transportation Improvement Program grants.
In a Facebook post from Bettencourt’s office in March, he said the $20 million from the grants will pay for new road surfaces, sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks, traffic signals, and modern design amenities.
He said residents’ safety has been the “driving force” behind the construction project.
The new Central Street will “positively affect the neighborhood and tens of thousands of Peabody residents,” Bettencourt said.
Residents can also check Bettencourt’s Instagram and Facebook, @PeabodyMayor; the Police Department’s Instagram and Facebook; @PeabodyPolice, the Peabody Connect Mobile App; the city’s website, or CodeRED alerts to stay up to date with traffic alerts.
