Oxford Fire Chief Pete Scholz is hoping to temporarily remove a barrier that separates two portions of a residential street so as to provide first-responders with quicker and better access to the western and northern parts of the community during the M-24 construction project next year.

Last week, Scholz approached the village council about the possibility of opening up Dayton St.

Dayton St. extends from Pleasant St. in the village to Sanhurst St., which is part of the Waterstone development in the township.

Drivers cannot travel from one end of Dayton St. to the other because just west of Willow St., there is a guardrail and a mound of earth, along with some trees and other vegetation, that block the way. This barrier has effectively created two Dayton streets, both of which are dead-ends.

Scholz said the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is willing to “take care of everything” when it comes to opening up the street and creating an emergency vehicle-only access point between the township and village sides. That includes paving the spot where the barrier is or spreading gravel there and installing whatever signage is necessary to notify motorists that it’s not for their use.

This is needed, in the chief’s opinion, because the work on M-24 is going to limit the routes that emergency vehicles can take when leaving Fire Station #1 at the corner of Washington (M-24) and Church streets.

During the M-24 project, all northbound traffic is going to cease on the highway between Drahner Rd. and Harriet St., the portion which will undergo a complete reconstruction. All northbound traffic will be detoured onto E. Drahner Rd., then directed to Oxford Lake Dr., Glaspie St., N. Oxford Rd. and finally Ray Rd. which will take motorists back to M-24.

“That means that literally nobody can go north on M-24 from Drahner Rd . . . That means I can’t come out of my station and turn right,” Scholz said.

Southbound traffic will continue to flow on M-24 throughout the project, but it will be restricted to one lane, which Scholz said means it’s going to be “bumper to bumper.”

To avoid the congestion on M-24 and the anticipated increase in traffic on W. Burdick St., Scholz suggested emergency vehicles from Station #1 could take Davison St. to Pleasant St., then head west on Dayton St. into the township.

Councilwoman Maureen Helmuth, who lives on Dayton St., asked how much time taking this route could “save” fire personnel during an emergency.

“Hopefully, at least 5 minutes,” Scholz replied. “Anything that helps speed (things) up or helps (us) get through there is what we’re looking for.”

“If it saves one life, it’s worth doing,” said Councilman Dave Bailey.

After the M-24 project is finished, Scholz noted MDOT is willing to restore the Dayton St. barrier if the community so desired.

The fire chief is expected to return to council with a formal request about opening up Dayton St. at its Tuesday, May 14 meeting. Meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. and take place in the council chambers at 22 W. Burdick St.