It’s difficult to find fault with the handful of Middlesex Township property owners whose land is being sought for the straightening of Route 228 through the stretch commonly known as Balls Bend.

The state Department of Transportation last fall presented a plan to eliminate the three sweeping curves between Route 8 and Quality Gardens, near the Adams Township border.

The proposed new road would make Route 228 a five-lane straightaway from Route 8 to the Mars schools. While PennDOT has completed two widening projects on Route 228 in Adams Township, this third project would be the first not to follow the path of the existing highway.

The widening would remove a major traffic bottleneck and would greatly enhance transportation between Cranberry Township and Butler. It would be a great benefit for the entire region.

But PennDOT is having second thoughts. “That project is on hold,” said Brian Allen, assistant District 10 executive for design, speaking last week during PennDOT’s annual Butler County outreach meeting at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Brady Township.

The reason: The property owners opposed the plan at a hearing last fall, and they continue to speak out. Some would lose their homes outright; the rest would find a multi-lane highway running through their yards.

Allen said PennDOT has heard those comments and is re-evaluating what it will do.

Good for PennDOT. Let’s respect the rights of the property owners and resist the temptation to turn this project into a case of eminent domain.

“We want to take a step back and make sure we settle on the best decision,” Allen says.

Also a prudent move — and the best decision still might be Plan A, to straighten Balls Bend.

Perhaps the best and simplest solution would be to rethink “fair market value” — the formula by which PennDOT proposes to compensate the property owners for their homes and land. Using the terminology of a real estate developer, let’s keep in mind that PennDOT intends to add $20 million in capital improvements. Commercial development along the improved highway is likely to follow later.

Since PennDOT has made it known the reconstruction of Balls Bend is worth that much, then who can fault the property owners for seeing their homes as that much more prized than “fair market value”?

Maybe the state just needs to make a better offer for the properties. It would be short-sighted to scuttle a $20-million highway enhancement over a few tens of thousands of dollars’ difference in perceived property values. Let’s get this done.