The bad news about the good news involving Route 228 is that completion of the project won’t be soon enough for motorists who regularly deal with the traffic congestion in that area of Cranberry Township.

But those motorists have reason to smile about the fact that in less than two years, traffic on that area near Interstate 79 will be moving more smoothly and with less confusion for those unfamiliar with the roadway — presumably reducing the number of accidents.

Unfortunately, October 2014, the targeted completion for the work that began last week, won’t mark the completion for an entirely rebuilt Route 228 between Cranberry and Route 8. Anything of that scope will be many years in the future, if it ever happens, considering controversial issues that exist in the corridor, especially in the area of Mars schools.

Still, what’s being done now is welcome.

The intent of the just-begun project is to eliminate the turns now necessary for traffic to exit Route 228 for I-79 travel north and south.

“The elimination of the left turns on Route 228 to reach north or south I-79 will result in significantly improved traffic flow,” said Jerry Andree, Cranberry Township manager.

To achieve the desired result, a new northbound on-ramp will be constructed, along with a new southbound loop ramp.

Currently, westbound motorists on Route 228 who want to get onto I-79 in either direction must first turn left across traffic to gain access to the interstate’s ramps. And, the current signage marking the access to the interstate could be more clear.

In addition to construction of the two new ramps, the southbound off-ramp at the interchange of I-79 and Route 228 will be reconstructed to improve traffic flow.

When I-79 was constructed, the scope of the challenges that would evolve in Cranberry weren’t envisioned — or, if envisioned, were not expected to occur so soon.

That’s why more efficient interstate access wasn’t initially put in place — at a much lower cost than will be involved now.

The price tag for the ramp project is listed as $14.7 million.

It’s good news now that the shortsightedness of the past will be rectified in less than 24 months. Cranberry motorists also can be grateful that no adverse impacts to travel are planned for the early stages of the ramps work.

The excavation work in progress is being done off Route 228’s shoulder.

The good news about the bad news of delays that might be necessary to complete the project is that they’ll be temporary.

The ramps work is another positive development amid Cranberry’s phenomenal growth — and, for now, an early holiday gift spelling an eventual reduction in travel frustration.