Oak Ridge North City Council unanimously approved an additional $49,220 in spending to redesign and reroute water lines for a Robinson Road realignment-related project during a Nov. 22 regular meeting.

The City Council approved spending not exceed $49,220 with the understanding that amounts of $12,764 and $25,000 in funds owed to the city by the engineering group from previous project pieces will be spent first. The total project cost is roughly $75,000, according to the city.

The waterline under Robinson Road was not originally planned to be moved during the Robinson Road realignment project, meaning anytime a waterline break occurred, the city would have to tear up the road for repairs. With the project addition, the waterline will be redesigned and moved into the planned right-of-way lane to deter future roadway construction and make the line more accessible for repairs, city officials said. In addition, if future development requires a larger waterline tap, which connects area business' pipe to the city water main, it would be accessible.

The Robinson Road realignment project includes providing a four-lane road from the Robinson Road and Patsy Lane intersection through a realigned section at the Union Pacific railroad tracks. This section of Robinson Road will include right-of-way, main lanes and storm drain.

RPS Engineering is the group working on the Robinson Road project. The city will meet with RPS engineers to implement the project, city officials said.

“I love planning ahead, so I have no issues with this," City Council Member Alex Jones said. "I think this is a good expense."