MIDDLESEX TWP — County Commissioners Chairwoman Leslie Osche formally requested funding from Middlesex Township for the Balls Bend portion of the Gateway 228 construction project at a township supervisors meeting on Wednesday night.

The Balls Bend project portion of the Gateway 228 project in Middlesex is from Route 8 west to Officer Ed Brooks Drive.

Osche detailed the history of the 228 widening and straightening project, the Balls Bend portion of which is already underway. The county had secured federal grants for the project in 2018 and 2020.

If Middlesex would contribute the suggested $2 million to the project, a similar portion as Adams agreed to contribute, it would be required to pay within six years from now, as the project will not be completed until 2028.

Osche said that without support from Middlesex, the county would need to put more funds directly into the Adams Township and Middlesex Township portions of the project.

“Without that local support, we will have to throw our support back into both projects and would essentially lose out,” she said.