A $7 million replacement of the Karns Crossing Bridge in Butler and Summit townships is part of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly’s requests for federal funding for local projects in next year’s budget.

In sum, Kelly, R-16th, seeks more than $45 million from the Community Project Funding program, which was launched alongside the 2022 federal budget after a decade-long ban on earmarks. Nearly $18 million in projects for which Kelly requested funds are in Butler County.

Kelly’s $45 million in requests follows the more than $8.5 million he sought in the 2022 budget. He ultimately voted against the bill which included funds for those requests.

Many of the projects involve the repair of roads and bridges.

The largest project for which Kelly seeks funds is the replacement of a bridge carrying Route 68 over Connoquenessing Creek and multiple railroad tracks, just south of Route 422, in Butler and Summit townships.

Karns Crossing received a “poor” grade in a 2021 inspection, as the Eagle reported following a bridge collapse in Pittsburgh. More than 11,000 vehicles cross the 868-foot bridge daily, according to PennDOT.

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