Four Butler County projects received $15 million in Community Project Funding grants this week.

The funding for these projects was requested by U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th.

"The Butler County projects are a great example of true, physical infrastructure that best return taxpayer money to the region,“ Matthew Knoedler, Kelly’s spokesman, said Wednesday. ”Rep. Kelly and our team spoke to local leaders during our vetting process, which has further shown the need for these projects to receive funding.“

The funding comes from the Community Project Funding Program, which was launched alongside the 2022 federal budget after a decade-long ban on earmarks, approved for projects within the 16th Congressional District. Kelly ultimately voted against that bill, which included funds for those requests.

“Once again, Community Project Funding was included in the massive $1.7 trillion end-of-year spending bill known as the ‘omnibus,’” Knoedler said. “Rep. Kelly voted against the omnibus not only because of the massive price tag, but also because members of Congress had just three days to read the 4,000-plus page bill.”

The projects include the replacement of Karns Crossing Bridge in Butler and Summit Township, upgrades to the Brush Creek Watershed in Cranberry Township, the construction of the new Harmony Fire District Station in Zelienople and improvements to the Route 422 Bypass.

“The Butler County projects total $15 million, so we’re incredibly thankful that the respective Appropriations subcommittees in Congress also see the value of funding true infrastructure projects,” Knoedler said.

The Karns Crossing Bridge project was awarded $6 million of Kelly’s requested $7 million.

“We are doing the final design phases for the project,” said Tina Gibbs, community relations coordinator at PennDOT. “As we move forward with the planning, we will continually evaluate the cost to see where things stand.”

The project plans to replace the 12-span bridge that crosses Connoquenessing Creek, the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad, and the Buffalo and Pittsburgh Railroad. It will also replace one of the bridge’s twin-cell arch culverts and include intersection improvements.

Cranberry Township’s Brush Creek Watershed project will receive $5 million in Community Project Funding.

“We’re extremely thankful and excited,” said township manager Dan Santoro. “This goes a long way toward helping us complete a project that benefits our residents and businesses.”

The project will upgrade the solids-side of the Brush Creek Water Pollution Control facility.

“We finished half of the plant a few years ago,” Santoro said. “I think this demonstrated our dedication to infrastructure development.”

The project is currently in the design phase.

“The process of treating wastewater is a complicated one, and one that the staff at the Brush Creek Treatment Plant take seriously,” Mike Manipole, board of supervisors chairman, said. “Likewise, our board recognizes the importance of that process and how it affects not just Cranberry Township, but our surrounding environment.”

The Harmony Fire District received $1.5 million to benefit the construction of a new fire station.

“We’re very happy to be the recipient of such a grant,” said Kevin Behun, fire district president. “This has been one of the most stressful and expensive projects the fire district has ever done.”

The project will construct a 10,000-square-foot facility on South Main Street in Zelienople. Recent inflation and the funding crisis facing volunteer services in the state have left the project at a standstill.

“This truly made the difference between us having to go back to the drawing board and make cuts and us getting started,” Behun said. “It allows us to focus on the mission of the organization.”

Behun said the project will soon go out for bid.

“We’re optimistic to be breaking ground this summer,” he said.

A project to improve a portion of Route 422 was awarded $2.5 million in funding.

“We are always grateful for funding that allows us to move infrastructure projects ahead that benefit our local communities,” Gibbs said.

Improvements will be made from Duffy Road to Whipporwill Road. These will include updated drainage, replacing the concrete median barrier and surface maintenance. This is the second phase of improvements to the highway.

“Currently, the U.S. 422 Bypass Phase 2 project is to be put out for bids in August,” Gibbs said.

This story was updated at 12:02 p.m, Jan. 19, 2023 to include a comment by Mike Manipole, Cranberry Township’s board of supervisors chairman.