Construction underway for Peabody bike path

PEABODY – Dozens gathered under a party tent propped up outside the Lahey Clinic Thursday afternoon for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Peabody Bikeway project.The highly anticipated, 18-year old plan is quickly becoming a reality, as just weeks ago, minor construction began along Lowell Street. Crews started taking down trees and bushes in order to make way for 4.6 miles of a 10-foot wide asphalt path that will connect users from one end of the city to the other.And that’s what Mayor Michael Bonfanti said was the beauty of it all.”The bike path opens up lots of different conservation areas,” he said to the crowd of supporters. Bonfanti said that with the completion of the path, users will gain access to over 400 acres of open space throughout the city and enjoy wildlife at its best, something that wouldn’t have been easy to do before.The path will follow that of the old railroad tracks from the Middleton/Peabody line and travel along the Ipswich River. It’ll wrap around Crystal Lake and Elginwood Pond, continue down Lowell Street past the High School and Brooksby Farm, and end right outside the Lahey Clinic, just before the Salem line.Bonfanti thanked the long list of individuals and organizations, such as MassHighway, Green International Affiliates, Inc., Community Development, and the Community Preservation Committee, for their efforts in getting the project funded and off the ground. He also gave special thanks to his “best friend” Senator Fred Berry, the City Council, the Northshore Mall, Hannaford, and the Lahey Clinic for their ongoing support.”You know we can’t do these things alone,” he said.Councilor Bob Driscoll expressed how pleased he was with the plan and its progress.”It’s an excellent project that will entice people to move here,” he said, adding “I love this community?I think Peabody’s going somewhere.”Senior Planner Blair Haney announced that as part of their ongoing renovations, the Northshore Mall would be funding the erection of a Peabody Revolutionary War Veterans Memorial at the Lahey entrance to the path.Local bicyclists John Kirby and Jim Dionne attended the event dressed in full biker spandex garb to show their support of the project.”This will be a lot safer,” said Kirby, who’s looking forward to bringing his niece and nephew to the new trail. “It’ll be nice to be able to ride in an area and not constantly be on the look out (for cars).”Dionne, who said he rides his bike every day, can’t wait to access parts of the city on two wheels that he hasn’t been able to before.”It’ll be nice to sit back and relax and just enjoy the surroundings,” he said, speaking about the marshlands along Lowell Street.The path won’t be up and running for another year, but these bikers don’t mind the wait.”It’s been 18 years already,” they quipped. “What’s one more?”