Oxford Township officials last week approved more than $800,000 for the expansion of the municipality’s water and sewer systems.

In a 6-0 vote, the township board allocated approximately $750,000 for next year’s construction of a 7,400-foot sanitary sewer line along M-24 from Gateway Drive, north of the village, to Oakdell Rd., south of the village. The money will come from the township’s sewer fund.

Using a rough estimate of $100 per foot, the new line, which is expected to be 18 inches in diameter, could cost approximately $740,000 to construct.

Handling the wave of new development that’s expected to hit M-24 in the coming years will be the line’s primary purpose.

Officials also voted 6-0 to authorize township engineer Jim Sharpe to design a water main that will extend along E. Drahner Rd. from M-24 to the Woods at Tullamore, a 49-unit residential development that received final site plan approval last month. A total of $53,850 was approved for the design with the money coming from the water fund.

This section of pipe will allow the township to loop its water system in that area, which will increase its reliability.

Having a looped system, as opposed to one with mains that dead-end, enables water to flow in more than one direction, which means users can still have access to it during line breaks or repairs.

“We’re not quite sure when the project’s going to (happen),” Sharpe told the board.

He indicated “it probably won’t happen next year” because of the M-24 construction project and it wouldn’t be a good idea to “rip up Drahner Rd. since that’s the (northbound) detour.”

“It might be a 2021 project,” Sharpe said. “But, we’ll be back (in front of) you once we get all the bids in.”