PEABODY — The city learned it has been designated to receive funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s (MassDOT) Municipal Pavement Program. The funding will be used for safety improvements on Route 114, a road that has seen several fatal accidents over the last few years and has been the subject of efforts to improve safety.
“Peabody is responsible for maintaining nearly 200 miles of city streets and we simply could not do it without assistance from the state,” Mayor Ted Bettencourt said. “We are grateful to MassDOT and our state legislative delegation for this grant, which will go a long way towards making Rt. 114 smoother and safer for drivers and pedestrians. Although Rt. 114 falls under the jurisdiction of MassDOT, these improvements will benefit thousands of Peabody residents and business owners.”
Sections of Route 114 are already the subject of MassDOT’s Route 114 Danvers/Peabody Long-Term Improvements Study, a project intended to develop and analyze potential changes to the corridor located in the two communities. MassDOT recently announced it will hold the study’s second public meeting virtually on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. This study follows Tier 2 construction improvements carried out by MassDOT’s Highway Division.
A total of $50 million has been awarded to 45 communites for FY 2025 and 2026.
“MassDOT is excited to announce the next round of awards for the Municipal Pavement Program, which will provide funding and technical assistance to 45 communities across the state,” Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said. “By making this support available to municipalities, we will make our roads smoother and safer, particularly in 27 Environmental Justice communities and 22 rural communities.”
The Municipal Pavement Program seeks to improve the condition of municipally owned state-numbered routes, with an emphasis on National Highway System (NHS) roadways, and to find opportunities to improve safety and accessibility for all modes.
Peabody is slated to receive the funding in 2026..
Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said since the MPP began in 2021, MassDOT has funded $75 million in paving improvements for more than 325 miles of roadways in the Commonwealth.
“We look forward to supporting our municipal partners throughout the planning and construction process as these projects progress,” Gulliver said.
Projects are selected by MassDOT each fiscal year based on pavement condition data, the proportion of state-numbered routes in poor condition in a municipality, and geographic equity. MassDOT works closely with selected communities to develop a scope of work for each roadway segment. All work is conducted by MassDOT contractors in coordination with the municipality.
Danvers (Route 62) is also slated to receive funding in 2026, while Beverly (Route 22) will receive funding in 2025.
