Danvers, Peabody 'Suicide' Route 114 Stretch Safety Measures Planned

PEABODY, MA — A two-mile stretch of Route 114 in Danvers and Peabody that residents called "deadly" and said included a "hazardous suicide lane" at an emotional public meeting last December will receive a series of what the state Department of Transportation called "quick-bid safety counter measures" aimed at reducing crashes this fall ahead of longer-term improvements.

The road connects Route 1 in Danvers and Route 128 in Peabody was the scene, as of December 2021, of 16 fatal accidents, 1,627 non-fatal accidents and 3,260 property damage accidents, totaling more than 5,400 total accidents on the Peabody stretch of the roadway alone in the previous 19 years.

A Road Safety Audit process conducted with state and local officials in spring 2022 documented 285 crashes over a three-year period, including four recent fatal crashes.

"I want to thank the community, the Peabody City Council, and especially the families of those residents killed in crashes for coming forward and sharing their concern for the safety of people traveling on Route 114 and for their continued partnership in this effort," State Rep. Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody) said on Friday. "This fall MassDOT will be taking the first steps toward implementing immediate safety improvements, and I look forward to a public meeting in the coming months to receive feedback on the next phase of this project."

Those initial steps include optimizing traffic signal timing to increase motorist and pedestrian safety at intersections, updating warning and regulatory signage to increase visibility, improving and adding accessible crosswalks and installing new pavement markings at select locations along the corridor to provide for a safer driving experience.

"MassDOT is listening to Danvers and Peabody residents, police, and local officials as we work in partnership to make 114 safer," said State Rep. Sally Kerans (D-Danvers) said. "I am truly encouraged by our progress."

Rachel Dellacroce, whose 18-year-old son, Nicholas, was struck and killed while on his motorcycle by a driver trying to cross all five lanes of Route 114, was among those who spoke at the December public meeting.

"I lost my son because of the lack of safety on this road," she said that night. "If there were a
median strip instead of the hazardous suicide (middle turning) lane, I'd still have two children."

The state DOT said the work will start immediately and continue through the remainder of the current construction season.

"Together, we have taken a successful stand to improve safety for motorists and pedestrians along Route 114," State Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem) said. "I am proud to partner with Representatives Tom Walsh and Sally Kerans, and to work with MassDOT and Danvers and Peabody leadership, to make these much-needed safety improvements.

"I also want to extend a sincere thank you to the families who tragically lost loved ones on this roadway, who raised their voices for these critical changes. I will continue to follow this issue closely and look forward to discussing these matters further at a future public meeting."

A new public website on the proposals and solicit feedback can be found here.

MassDOT anticipates holding a local public informational meeting in late 2022 to discuss the next phase of improvements proposed for the roadway and gather information and comments from the public.

That work will include resurfacing, narrowing travel lane widths to reduce speeding, site line improvements and installing additional crosswalks and sidewalks.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)