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Birmingham details 5-year capital improvement program, prioritizing streets and utility upgrades
Summary
Engineering staff presented a capital improvement program that prioritizes utility-driven reconstructions and lists 2026 projects (mill-and-overlay, Cape Seal, sewer lining, Bird Avenue reconstruction and a TAP-funded South Eaton bike-lane project); commissioners pressed for clarity on sequencing, grant impacts and how spot repairs versus full reconstructions affect project counts.
Engineering staff on Saturday outlined the draft five-year Capital Improvement Program and the process used to prioritize segments for reconstruction and resurfacing.
Melissa Fairbairn and the engineering team described an infrastructure-scoring tool (max 300 points combining road, sewer and water condition) and said projects were selected using condition scores plus coordination with other agencies, downstream utility capacity and safety considerations. City engineering presented maps showing 2026 construction candidates, including carryovers (Wilmington phase, Adams/Derby signal), annual asphalt and concrete programs, the 2026 sewer-lining program and special-construction projects such as Bird Avenue (utility replacement and reconstruction) and South Eaton (resurfacing with TAP grant for bike lanes). The South Eaton segment noted an approximate TAP grant of over $2 million.
Engineering said the plan is intentionally flexible: special assessments, grant awards and emergency repairs can shift timing. Commissioners sought more granular cost and schedule detail for high-profile streets (Cole Street, Lincoln and Eaton) and asked for benchmarking on local bid results versus neighboring jurisdictions. Staff said spot slab or mill-and-overlay repairs typically raise street-condition scores to the 8'9 levels and that full underground replacements are the major cost driver.
No formal decision was taken; staff said the CIP will be integrated into April's budget work and that a water asset management plan, due this spring, will refine longer-term priorities.
