After visiting Butler County earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy urging the Department of Transportation to give full and favorable consideration to the county’s application for funding for a segment of the Gateway 228 project.

In the letter, McCormick expressed his support for Butler County’s request for $50.9 million through the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight and Highways Grant Program to complete the Mars Railroad Bridge West Project, a central component of the larger Gateway 228 corridor improvement project. The investment would ease longstanding traffic congestion, improve freight movement, enhance commuter travel, and strengthen transportation infrastructure throughout the region, he said.

“Reliable infrastructure is essential to keeping Pennsylvania’s economy moving,” said McCormick. “The Gateway 228 project will improve safety, reduce congestion, strengthen freight movement, and create new opportunities for growth in Butler County and across Western Pennsylvania.

“I'm proud to support this application and encourage the Department of Transportation to give it full consideration.”

Gateway 228 serves as a vital commuter route and regional freight corridor but has struggled to keep pace with increased traffic and population growth.

According to Butler County’s application, the project will complete a key segment of the corridor, creating a fully connected transportation route between Interstate 79 and State Route 8.

The improvements are expected to reduce crashes by an estimated 61%, improve freight mobility, strengthen regional connectivity, and enhance quality of life for residents.