Peabody Mayor Addresses Central Street Project Frustration

A winter construction pause will temporarily ease delays, detours and disruptions on the four-year Central Street reconstruction.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Home Renovation

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of an open road trench with an exposed pipe and a row of orange cones, set against a pale winter sky. — Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt acknowledged resident frustration over the four-year, $25 million Central Street reconstruction, which will pause this winter to ease traffic disruption. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt acknowledged resident frustration over the Central Street reconstruction project, a four-year, $25 million effort largely funded by the state. A winter construction pause will temporarily ease delays, detours and disruptions on the corridor.

Why it matters

Central Street carries more than 70,000 vehicles each day, and much of its infrastructure is more than 100 years old. The project is state-managed through MassDOT and its contractor, MDR, limiting the city's direct oversight.

The four-year, $25 million project serves a corridor carrying more than 70,000 vehicles daily, with much of its infrastructure more than 100 years old. The city has not disclosed how the resulting schedule delays will be fully mitigated before completion.

The players

Ted Bettencourt

Ted Bettencourt is the mayor of Peabody, Massachusetts, who has publicly acknowledged resident frustration with the Central Street project.

MassDOT

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is the state agency managing the Central Street reconstruction project and largely funding it.

The details

The sub-surface work is the current phase, most of which happens underground, and construction disruptions have included shifting schedules and detours tied to weather, utility conflicts and contractor adjustments. The city is exploring traffic signal adjustments and the possibility of limited night work.

2024: Central Street reconstruction project began.
Winter 2026-2027: Major construction pauses during winter months.
Spring 2027: Major construction resumes.
2028: Project expected to be complete.

Roadmap

Peabody accepted the state's offer to fully rebuild Central Street because it was a rare chance to rebuild one of the city's busiest corridors. The project follows a state-managed model in which MassDOT directs the work, limiting the city's direct control over schedules.

Drivers on Central Street and nearby routes such as Lowell Street and Main Street should expect continued delays and detours until construction resumes. Residents may see temporary relief during the winter pause before work picks up again in the spring.

The takeaway

Residents facing long infrastructure projects can plan around scheduled pauses, such as the winter break on Central Street, to reduce daily travel disruption.