The board of alderpersons may order street improvements and assess the cost thereof against the abutting property owners, exclusive of the costs incurred at street intersections according to one or more of the assessment bases set forth in article 10 of chapter 160A of the North Carolina General Statutes, without the necessity of a petition, upon the finding by the board as a fact:
(a) That the street improvement project does not exceed 1,200 linear feet, and
(b) That such street or part thereof is unsafe for vehicular traffic, and it is in the public interest to make such improvements, or
(c) That it is in the public interest to connect two streets, or portions of a street already improved, or
(d) That it is in the public interest to widen a street, or part thereof, which is already improved, provided that assessments for widening any street and otherwise improving such street in accordance with the street classification and improvement standards established by the town’s thoroughfare or major street plan for the particular street or part thereof to be widened and improved under the authority granted by this article.