Construction work on Route 228 has become a familiar sight for drivers, but work is nearly wrapping up.
Officials with the Department of Transportation and Congressman Mike Kelly were in Mars Monday to discuss the latest state of the Route 228 project. The Route 228 Corridor project has stretched from the Beaver County line to Route 8 in Butler.
“This project is putting taxpayer dollars to work right here in Butler County. Let’s be clear – the real people to thank are the taxpayers. We are investing in the future of Butler County and Western Pennsylvania for decades to come,” Kelly said. “This is a great step toward improving safety, accessibility and efficiency along one of the most critical and heavily traveled highways in our region. I’m proud to have secured funding and resources for the Route 228 project to improve one of the fastest-growing regions in the 16th Congressional District.”
Many projects along Route 228 have come to completion, including the Freedom Road Turnpike bridge, Route 19 Freedom Road/ Route 228 intersection, Route 228 /I-79 ramps, the MSA Thruway, the Pittsburgh Street Intersection, and the Mars Railroad Bridge have all been completed.
Still under construction is the Balls Bend Intersection, which is expected to be completed in January 2025. Freedom Road Phase One is complete, but environmental testing is currently wrapping up, while phase two will be finished in November of 2025. Finally, Three Degree Road will be completed in November of 2026.
These projects have all received funding from the federal BUILD funds program with PennDOT and local funding filling gaps.
The county is still seeking more than $90 million more to complete the Mars Railroad Bridge West Expansion. According to officials with PennDOT, they can fund about 25% of the project with the rest needing outside funding.
