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Lakewood Estates residents ask county to address deteriorating private road; officials explain limits
Summary
Residents of Lakewood Estates told commissioners the main subdivision road has not been maintained for decades, has severe potholes and drainage issues after waterline work, and faces potential collapse; county staff and commissioners explained the state’s requirements and suggested forming an HOA or privately funding repairs.
Residents of Lakewood Estates told the Wayne County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 that Lakewood Avenue, the subdivision’s main artery, has deteriorated after decades without maintenance and recent utility work, creating safety and access concerns.
Emma B. Hamilton and other neighbors described large potholes, widening cracks, erosion around drainage features and repeated waterline excavations that have further compromised the roadway. Hamilton said the street has not seen systematic maintenance for some 57 years and warned that further deterioration could block the sole entrance and exit from the subdivision, jeopardizing emergency access and routine services such as trash collection and mail.
County staff and commissioners explained that many private subdivision roads in North Carolina remain the responsibility of property owners and that state rules generally require a road to be brought up to current Department of Transportation standards before the state will accept maintenance responsibility. That process can be costly because current standards may require rebuilding ditches, road base and utilities. Commissioners suggested homeowners explore a homeowners association or collective private contracting as potentially lower‑cost alternatives; staff noted a previous neighborhood that used private assessments to complete repairs at a per‑lot cost notably less than a full state‑standard rebuild.
The board said it would provide information to residents about next steps and that county staff can discuss options, but emphasized the county cannot unilaterally repair private roads or assume maintenance absent state acceptance or other legal mechanism.
Residents asked the county to help identify funding or technical pathways to achieve a state takeover; commissioners reiterated the constraints and recommended residents pursue targeted engineering estimates and neighborhood coordination as the practical first steps.
