A truck crosses a bridge on Route 68 in Butler Township, Pa. on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The state-owned bridge was given a “poor” grade for both the deck and superstructure. Joseph Ressler/Butler Eagle 1/28/22U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, requested $7 million from the federal government to help replace the Karns Crossing Bridge, pictured in this Eagle file photo from January.he state-owned bridge is again being included in possible future repair plans, this time by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, which will vote on a plan June 27.

Six million dollars for the replacement of Karns Crossing Bridge in Butler and Summit townships was part of $15 million in Community Project Funding grants awarded to four Butler County projects, a press release from U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16, announced Wednesday.

The funding for these four Butler County projects was requested by Kelly and 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.

The Brush Creek Watershed is to receive $5 million to increase capacity to the Brush Creek Water Pollution Control Facility, which helps Cranberry Township’s sewage, and the Harmony Fire District Station Construction will receive $1.5 million for its new fire station in Zelienople.

Phase 2 of the U.S. 422 Bypass will receive $2.5 million in funding, which is intended to improve Route 422 between Duffy and Whipporwill roads. That project would include resurfacing and other roadway improvements, upgrades to drainage and guardrails, the replacement of a median barrier and “miscellaneous construction.”

"These projects are great examples of true, physical infrastructure that will serve communities across the 16th Congressional District incredibly well," Kelly said. "When my team and I reviewed the applications for this year's projects, we wanted to give Pennsylvania taxpayers the best return on their investment. I believe these projects will do just that."

The projects are among Kelly’s earlier requests for nearly $18 million in federal funding for local projects in the 2023 budget, which President Biden signed into law in late December.

Kelly had requested $7 million for the bridge replacement and sought another $1.7 million to improve Route 68 between Stevenson and Meridian roads.

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