Dukes secures PennDOT commitment to fund majority cost to finish Route 228 improvement project
$102 million needed to complete construction of project’s final phase
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro October 14, 2026 | 7:17 PM
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Oct. 14 – The redevelopment of Route 228 in Butler County is nearing its final stages after decades of construction, but there are hurdles that still need to be cleared before the last portion of construction can begin. During a House Majority Policy roundtable discussion on the future of Route 228 and the final phase of construction, hosted by Rep. Brandon Dukes (D-Butler), Pennsylvania Dept. of Transportation (PennDOT) Secretary Mike Carroll announced PennDOT has committed to funding more than half of the remaining cost of the $102 million needed to complete the project.
“The whole project has been in the works for decades. There are people who have lived in this community their entire lives who have never seen it fully completed. Route 228 serves as a main artery for Cranberry Township and Butler County as a whole, with millions of drivers using it every year,” Dukes said. “Widening and improving this corridor is vital to easing congestion and improving the commute for the people who live, work, and travel here.”
Route 228 Corridor Improvement Projects underway at PennDOT are aimed at updating the safety and efficiency of the route from Route 8 to Route 19. The “Mars Railroad West Project” addresses the last remaining section needed to fully tie the completed Route 228 corridor together. The work extends from Franklin Road to just west of Pittsburgh Street, and includes intersection upgrades and roadway widening through Seven Fields Borough and Adams and Cranberry Townships.
"Route 228 is a critical corridor for Butler County and as the region grows, so does the need to complete the final section, tying all the improvements together," said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll. "PennDOT is committed to doing what we can to advance this effort, and I'm grateful to Rep. Dukes for convening this important discussion.”
While the final portion of the project is currently funded for all pre-construction phases, approximately $102 million dollars is needed for actual construction of this final phase. During the hearing, Sec. Carroll committed PennDOT to funding more than half of the money needed to complete this project. Butler County recently applied for a federal infrastructure grant for $50 million. If that grant application is approved at a significant amount, PennDOT will fund the remainder of the project cost.
“I’m extremely grateful to Secretary Carroll and his team for committing to funding the remainder of the project if Butler County receives a federal infrastructure grant. I also want to thank the important decision-makers in our community for all the work they’ve done on this project to get us where we are today,” Dukes said. “With the committed funding from the state, we’re one step closer to finally finishing this important project.”
“We have reasons to be optimistic about this project, but the optimism must be matched with action,” said House Majority Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie). “We need our partners at the federal level to get off their hands and help us secure this money. We owe it to the people of Butler County to ensure the progress that’s already been made translates into meaningful improvements for the drivers who depend on this road every day.”
In addition to PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll and PennDOT District 10 Executives Brian Allen and Alice Hammond, members were joined by all three Butler County Commissioners and representatives from Cranberry Township, Seven Fields Borough, the Butler County Planning Commission, and the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission.
Information about this and other House Democratic Policy Committee events can be found at pahouse.com/policy.