The number itself is staggering.

County officials estimate the total cost to upgrade the Route 228 corridor to be about $294 million.

While that number certainly is high, the data outlining the volume that travels the road is perhaps even more impressive.

Officials estimate about 52,000 vehicles travel the 26.4 mile stretch of road each day. Annually, $28 billion in commodities pass through the area, a large portion of which is generated in Butler County.

Understanding that Route 228 could be a key to future economic success, county leaders are leaving nothing to chance when it comes to expanding the roadway. Commissioners are in the process of seeking $68 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation Infrastructure for Rebuilding America Grant to speed up work.

That would be in addition to the $226 million already committed to the corridor. The impact of that work is evident near Pittsburgh Street in Adams Township, where a widening project has changed the landscape of the area. Once completed, it will open up an area that had frequently been congested.

Similar projects also are in the early stages, including the Balls Bend Realignment Project as well as the MSA Thruway in Cranberry Township, which promises to reduce the load on Route 228 by directing local traffic underneath it.

If the federal grant is secured, officials hope to have the entirety of the work completed by 2026, with the majority of it ramping up in 2021. It would make the types of upgrades that have been sought for decades a reality.

The timeline certainly is aggressive, but county officials should be commended for that. They see an opportunity to not only make the county a hub of commerce, but also to address the increasing infrastructure needs brought on by a rash of development in the southwest portion of the county.

Indeed, while the road only travels through a comparatively small portion, the entirety of Butler County stands to benefit. More commerce and residents having easier access to other major roadways will only help draw more business to the county, the financial impact of which is likely immeasurable.

That is why we believe it is important for county municipalities to voice their support for the project to federal officials as the grant application is being considered. As Commissioner Leslie Osche pointed out, “the more skin we have in the game at this level … the better off we are.”

Additionally, we urge residents to remain patient as the amount of work increases in the coming years. While traffic delays for construction are undoubtedly a headache for those affected, the end result — in a short period of time — will be worth the wait.