Kelly meets with U.S. Dept. of Transportation to discuss critical funding for Butler County's "Gateway 228"

Image October 16, 2026 Press Release WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Thursday, Oct. 15, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Mark Gordon, Chief of Economic Development and Planning of Butler County, Pa. , met with officials from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to advocate for additional funding for Butler County's "Gateway 228" project during a meeting at USDOT headquarters in Washington. From 2018-2020, Rep. Kelly secured $45 million in federal funding for the Gateway 228 project in southern Butler County. "The Gateway 228 project is in the homestretch. I look forward to working with our partners at the federal, state, and local levels to finish one of the most important infrastructure projects in our district," said Rep. Kelly. BACKGROUND Rep. Kelly has been a longtime supporter of the Gateway 228 project, advocating for it in Washington for the last decade. The 26.4-mile project widens and improves traffic flow along State Route 228 between Cranberry Township, Mars, Seven Fields, Valencia, and communities across southern Butler County. In June 2026, Kelly led a letter to the U.S. Dept. of Transportation announcing his support for Butler County’s latest funding request to complete the Mars RR Bridge Extension Project. As of June 2026, 10 of the 11 roadway segments in Gateway 228 have been completed or are under construction for a total investment of $184 million. Route 228 has been called "a critical economic corridor," supporting 6,000 businesses, 5,000+ new homes, and $20 billion in exported freight, according to Butler County officials. Issues : Transportation & Infrastructure