BERLIN — A series of minor road and
sidewalk upgrades will be performed by the end of September, according to a
report given by Berlin Public Works Director Michael Gibbons at Monday’s Berlin
Town Hall Mayor and Council Meeting.

“We have identified these areas as the
worst,” said Gibbons, who identified North Main and Flower Street, Germantown
Road, Franklin Avenue Buckingham Lane as the roads to receive attention for the
project.

Germantown Road, which has a section that
curves, will be widened and straightened. Cracks on the road will be removed
and replaced and work will be done to repair cracks on the shoulder of the
road.

Curb work will also be done on a section
of Franklin Avenue in a response to deterioration.

The surface of one part of Buckingham Lane
is higher in the middle than on the sides of the street. Those sides will be
filled with asphalt to even out the road and make it level.

Because of an increase in foot traffic on
North Main Street, a crosswalk has been proposed to be placed across the road
directly in front of the Berlin Farmer’s Market.

Flower Street’s sidewalk will be extended
along the road, “as far as we can with the money we have budgeted this year,”
said Gibbons.

Repairs to the sidewalk in front of Berlin
Town Hall will also be done.

Gibbons said he plans on doing these minor
fixes instead of a major project encompassing more roads and more permanent
repairs because a detailed project would take much longer and cost much more
money.

“If we do a major project, we’re talking
about millions [of dollars], easily,” said Mayor Gee Williams at the meeting.

Berlin will solicit bids from construction
companies around the area to perform the work. Bids will open Aug. 15.