Peabody Water Project: 'A Light At The End Of The Tunnel'

PEABODY, MA — Acknowledging the bumpy road of the city's Clean & Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project, Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt pointed to a "light at the end of the tunnel" in often-disruptive road project.

"I want to thank you for your patience and understanding as we replaced century-old water mains beneath three of Peabody's busiest roads," he said of Lynnfield Street, Summit Street and Lowell Street in a letter to the community. "The construction resulted in unexpected shutdowns, last-minute detours and other inconveniences to drivers, pedestrians, residents and business. It also left those roads in horrible condition."

"But there light at the end of the tunnel," he insisted.

Bettencourt said heavy construction on Lowell Street has been completed with all that remains being asphalt-filling trenches over the next two to three weeks between Peabody High School and the Route 128 interchange at Northshore Road.

Similar work will take place on surrounding streets as a "temporary measure to get us through the winter" while the new water mains stabilize in the surrounding sediment.

Bettencourt said "2021 will be a year of re-paving in Peabody" with Lowell Street repaved from curb to curb in the spring, along with the surrounding streets.

He said the booster pumping station near Peabody High will "significantly improve" water pressure to many Peabody homes. He added that "some good news to share" about that aspect of the project will be forthcoming.

"Thank you for your patience during one of the largest infrastructure-improvement projects we have ever done in Peabody," he said. "Although we could not have picked a worse year to do it, I believe the result will make Peabody an even better place to live."