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PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Some Peabody residents are worried their concerns about construction aren't being listened to.
Many residents that live near road construction on Route 114 in Peabody are upset that concerns they addressed at a public meeting last week were ignored.
"When we got home we felt really good about it, but the following day up went the barrels," one concerned Peabody resident said. "That is not what we thought was going to happen."
Barrels have been placed on the road limiting drivers to just traffic two lanes. People who live in the area told WBZ's Shari Small they are concerned about losing access to the third lane as it makes it difficult to turn into residential streets across from the North Shore Mall.
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The construction is being done to improve safety and prevent accidents for the two-mile section of Route 114 between Route 1 in Danvers and Route 128 in Peabody. The road work includes optimizing traffic signal timing to improve driver and pedestrian safety, updating signs to increase visibility, adding crosswalks, and installing new pavement markings, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
While the goal is meant to help lessen accidents on the road, residents are worried the construction will make them worse.
"It could be dangerous for us because what's to prevent one of us getting rear-ended because we're going to be like really slowing down to take the turn from the second lane," the Peabody resident said.
As the holiday season approaches, she is concerned without having access to the third lane it could cause more traffic issues for shoppers going to the North Shore Mall.
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