Freedom Road ribbon-cutting demonstrates collaboration, progress
CRANBERRY TWP — “Teamwork makes the dream work” is not just a catchphrase when it comes to the Freedom Road expansion project.
This was evidenced by the gathering of officials at a ribbon-cutting Saturday for the project’s next phase.
Representatives at local, county and state levels all appeared at 1181 Freedom Road to celebrate the completion of one phase and commemorate the beginning of a new one.
The last phase of the project saw work on Freedom Road between its intersections with Commonwealth Drive and Haine School Road. The next phase will begin at the Haine School Road intersection and continue to the Powell Road intersection.
Mike Manipole, chairman of Cranberry Township supervisors, said the improvement project started as an idea more than 30 years ago.
“We met much opposition. We couldn’t agree on what it was going to look like,” he said. “PennDOT, Cranberry Township, our state representatives and senators all got together to make this happen. All of the region benefits, not just Cranberry.”
From widening lanes to adding turning and bike lanes, the last phase of the project cost $20 million of a Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Developments (BUILD) grant, secured by the Butler County commissioners in 2018.
The next phase of the project will be paid for using a $25 million BUILD grant the commissioners received in 2020.
The Route 228 and Freedom Road Project is expected to cost more than $62 million.
Leslie Osche, county commissioner chairwoman, said receiving those grants was groundbreaking in itself.
“In a challenging political environment, this project represents political representatives coming together to do something for the people,” she said.
She recounted the hard work it took the commissioners to get the grant through collaboration with PennDOT, a few trips to Washington, D.C., and a lot of phone calls.
In her remarks, state Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th, recognized the years of effort it took to fund the expansion project.
“It was an unprecedented effort with unprecedented planning, and I’m looking forward to being in partnership with you,” she said. “As a resident, I’m very excited for this.”
Manipole thanked his staff at Cranberry Township, as well as Brian Allen, district executive for PennDOT during the ceremony.
“I’m not one to say that pavement is a beautiful thing, but the road is wide, and the way is safe, and people are getting where they need to go,” he said.
Allen said the corridor project is providing increased mobility, quality of life and economic development in the county.
“We couldn’t have done this on our own in the Department of Transportation,” he said. “It’s nice to finally see it come to fruition ... This is another great example of the government working at all levels to leverage resources for the benefit of the community.”
The next phase of the project is expected to take a year and a half to two years, according to Manipole. Utility lines are being moved and trees are being cut, but Allen said the heavy-duty road work will begin in the summer.
“We’re halfway there, but the future is really, really bright,” Manipole said.
