The MSA Thruway underpass project in Cranberry Township is expected to be finished by mid-October. Top left, both sides of the Thruway have roundabouts, this one is on the side by the Pittsburgh Marriott North hotel; top right, traffic on Route 228 flows over the nearly-completed underpass.PHOTOGRAPHY BY Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle

CRANBERRY TWP — The MSA Thruway is just a few weeks away from its inaugural drive-through and the subsequent traffic and economic benefits the township projects the tunnel will bring.

Mike Malak, township engineering and environmental services director, updated the supervisors Thursday on the status of the more than $12 million tunnel project.

“MSA, we keep getting closer and closer to completion,” he said. “(I am) looking forward to the ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for Oct. 14 and for things to open up shortly thereafter.”

Currently, the Route 228 underpass connecting Cranberry Woods and Cranberry Springs — which comes along with new off- and on-ramps to northbound Interstate 79 and two roundabouts — is slated to open in mid-October, according to township manager Dan Santoro.

In addition to the traffic benefits — township officials estimate roughly a one-third reduction in Route 228 eastbound traffic at the Cranberry Springs and Woods intersection; a nearly one-quarter shift of vehicles from Route 228 to the Thruway; and a 40% drop in queueing vehicles at the I-79 northbound off-ramp — Cranberry expects the tunnel will bring positive economic impacts too.

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