JACKSON TWP — The township will receive a $1.5 million state grant for road work that it hopes will bring a new business that could create 400 to 500 jobs.

The money will be used to create a full access intersection with Route 528, Tomlinson Drive and Jo Deener Drive.

This is just east of the new Butler Transit Authority Park and Ride lot that was opened this year.

Township Supervisor Ron Lutz said this morning the developer behind a proposed distribution facility for Tomlinson Drive also would contribute money to the cost of the project.

He said the township has been working with the developer for months on the proposal, though he would not identify the company until an application for the project is submitted.

The proposal still is preliminary, but the distribution center potentially could create 400 to 500 jobs, Lutz said.

“We’re very happy they decided to help fund that. The way the state looks at it, the state looks at job creation,” he said.

The project will reconstruct Tomlinson Drive to access Route 528 through the existing Lindy Paving site to an intersection with a traffic signal. The township also will reroute and reconstruct Jo Deener Drive to meet the relocated Tomlinson Drive.

This will make a four-way signalized intersection that will lessen congestion and increase safety.

The project will improve access to the park and ride lot, the distribution facility and residential development in the area, according to officials.

The new intersection also will improve traffic flow from two housing developments under construction on Tollgate School Road.

Jackson’s Crossing and Old Hickory Highlands are planned to create a combined 245 new houses in the next few years and many residents will use Jo Deener Drive, Lutz said.

The grant is from $40 million in the state Multimodal Transportation Fund, which was created by Act 89 last November.

The grants are being used for 62 projects in 29 counties, ranging from airport, transit, railway and port improvements to street intersection and streetscape enhancements.