It took two years and the raising of $180,000 via grants and private donations, but construction will begin this year on three new tennis courts once bids are received for the project.

On Wednesday night, school officials cleared the project’s final hurdle after securing approval from the Conservation Commission. Wareham High School Finance Manager Michael MacMillan appeared before the Conservation Commission because the project will be located 70 feet from a coastal bank.

With the approval, MacMillan said the project will go out to bid immediately. He said there is not an estimated cost at this time.

He said the courts are needed to accommodate the girls and boys tennis teams, who currently only have three courts for matches and practice.

“The three existing courts really restrict their ability to play and practice,” said MacMillan. “This will definitely provide an upgrade for the tennis program.”

In the audience on Wednesday was Wareham High School girls tennis coach Geoff Swett who made the proposal two years ago.

According to Swett, who is also a member of the Wareham School Committee, most other schools in the South Coast Conference have at least five or six courts. He said the extra courts would be open to the public, as the current courts are, and that it would give gym classes and tennis teams more playing opportunities.

The new courts will be located in a grassy area next to Wareham Middle School on a 120-foot by 155-foot lot.

The project received support from voters at Annual Town Meeting last year when they approved $90,000 in Community Preservation Act funds for the courts. The project received $90,000 in private funding that was contingent on $90,000 coming from preservation funds.

Those funds come from a three percent surcharge levied on residential property above the first $100,000 of assessed property. The state partially matches the locally-raised funds, which can be used for the preservation recreational facilities, among other uses.

Swett said the current courts, which were built in 1991, are asphalt, and have lived beyond their 20-year expectancy. Those courts would continue to be used along with the new courts.

Swett said the team was looking forward to using the new courts and that construction is expected to be finished before winter weather arrives.

“There is a weather window, it has to be done before it gets too cold,” said Swett. “We want to get started as soon as possible.”