By Tara Fischer
Staff Writer
(March 26, 2026) The Berlin Town Council on Monday approved reallocating $450,000 in fiscal year 2026 street capital funding to address deteriorating conditions on Henry’s Mill Drive, now considered the “worst roadway” in the Town of Berlin.
Jimmy Charles, the municipality’s public works director, told the council Monday night that sections of the road became impassable after cold weather caused the pavement to buckle.
“Back in February, a portion of two sections of the road on Henry’s Mill Drive after the thaw buckled up, deteriorated, and created an impassable,” Charles said.
Now, the town will turn its sights on a comprehensive repair effort, primarily consisting of milling and resurfacing the roadway. While no major underground utility work is anticipated, public works teams will evaluate and address issues with existing storm drain piping in problem areas.
“There are potholes in areas that need to be addressed where the storm piping is crossing, so it’s just to fix some of the storm piping, not doing any new storm work,” Charles maintained.
A staff report adds that “multiple sections of Henry’s Mill Drive exhibit advanced roadway failure,” including extensive potholing, elevated and misaligned manhole covers, raised water meter covers, and “alligator” cracking, indicating failure of the roadbed.
The report notes that “based on observed conditions, a grind-and-repave project is required. In addition, localized removal and replacement of unsuitable subgrade material may be necessary in identified soft spots to stabilize the roadway and prevent recurring failure.”
Funding for the project will be used with dollars transferred from street capital previously designated for work on Branch Street, Schoolfield Street, Flower Street, and Washington Street.
According to the staff report, each of these locations requires underground utility work before any roadway improvements can occur. As these utility projects are likely not to be completed until the late 2026-2027 budget timeframe, any roadway construction initiatives are infeasible in the near term.
Charles confirmed the town intends to add these streets back into the next budget cycle after the reallocation.
The project will be put out for bid through a request for proposals (RFP), with officials estimating it could take three to six months before construction begins.
Residents who attended the meeting voiced concerns about access and timing.
Berlin Mayor Zack Tyndall confirmed that throughout the process, “messaging is definitely part of the plan.”
Linda Palmer, a Henry’s Mill Drive citizen, urged officials to provide advance notice so residents can plan for parking and access disruptions.
“We have a lot of people who park cars on the roads,” she said. “We need advanced warning about what to do about that.”
Others asked the town to consider academic schedules, as lots of parents in the area drive their children to school and will need to get in and out of the roadway.
It was also suggested that the construction be coordinated in a way where one side is worked on at a time, creating a path for vehicles to get around.
Nicholas Bradley, with the engineering consulting firm Davis, Bowen & Friedel, maintained that in-and-out points would be a priority, as “access is the primary concern.”
The council unanimously approved the funding reallocation, with Councilmember Shaneka Nichols absent.