Danvers, Peabody 'Suicide' Route 114 Stretch Fix Includes New Traffic Pattern, Flex Posts

DANVERS, MA — Nearly two years after dozens of friends and family members of those injured or killed in Route 114 crashes through Danvers and Peabody in recent years packed an emotionally charged public meeting and pleaded for changes to prevent more deaths, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation is set to begin substantial changes to what that night was called a "suicide" stretch of roadway connecting the neighboring city and town.

Beginning Monday, there will be daily lane closures along Route 114 between the I-95 interchange and Violet Road intersections. The work will begin Tier 2 road improvements that start with installing flex posts as part of a new traffic pattern.

Those traveling through the area on Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. can expect delays because of temporary lane closures.

The changes were derived from the Road Safety Audit that the MassDOT conducted in response to the December 2021 public meeting in which speakers charged there had been 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.

MassDOT implemented a two-tier system of short- and mid-term improvements along the corridor until a permanent realignment of the road could potentially be discussed and implemented.

Tier 1 work last year included traffic calming measures such as signal timing updates, new signs, refreshed and new pavement markings, and two new crosswalks.

The more sweeping Tier 2 work beginning on Monday includes the flex posts, the new traffic pattern, full-width roadway resurfacing, pavement markings and additional pedestrian crossing improvements.

"The flex posts are being installed in targeted locations, which have a history of serious including fatal crashes, and at select locations that can be accessed/egressed more safely through existing controlled u-turns or available alternate access/egress points for local businesses," MassDOT said in a statement on Friday.

Tier 1 and Tier 2 are part of $2.5 million in existing MassDOT district-wide maintenance contracts.

Drivers who are traveling through the area should reduce speed and use caution.

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