Farm tractors, which tilled the rich 240 acres in Allen Township for decades, will be replaced July 11 with earth-moving machinery as construction of the FedEx Ground warehouse and logistics hub gets underway.

Allen Township Board of Supervisors at its June 28 meeting released details of the project, not only the largest in the township, but one of the biggest construction projects in the region. It is the largest such hub of 14 the company operates in the United States.

Supervisors Chairman Bruce Frack said a private meeting held two weeks ago with FedEx Ground and Northampton County Conservation District spelled out conditions of the plans that will be in place as construction of the two-year project unfolds.

Work commences this week on the north boundary involving sedimentation and erosion details. On the south boundary, crews will work to ensure all environmental controls are met according to the county conservation district’s satisfaction.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for FedEx Ground, planned for August, will include township supervisors, elected state officials, the public and others yet to be announced.

“Sometime in 2018,” Frack said, is the time line for FedEx Ground to start operating.

A resident asked about the status of Willowbrook Road. Frack said it will remain open. Lane closings will occur; the roadway will not shut down completely.

In the next several weeks, the widening of Willowbrook Road will take place.

For the next six months, crews will work two shifts virtually around the clock, 6 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-4 a.m., six days a week.

Large light towers will be erected.

Concerned of the noise the large generators make, Frack said his experience regarding the issue is that smaller generators are noisier; however, noise-monitoring equipment will be placed on the north boundary to gauge the noise levels with reports made weekly.

Bethlehem Water Authority is to provide a connection early on to mitigate the amount of dust that becomes airborne near the northwest area at the construction site. The authority wants to provide interior water for dust control. Such work entails tapping into an existing water main on Willowbrook Road, which also may cause lane closures.

Frack, the board and township Manager Ilene Eckhart assured residents they will not be kept out of the loop; as the huge construction project moves forward, residents will be advised.

Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority was a key player, selling the land to make the project happen, as was Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, regarding traffic and road improvements, including the Race Street extension.

The plant will be 800,000 square feet. When fully expanded later, it will total 11 million square feet.

Once fully operational, FedEx Ground could have as many as 600 employees. A FedEx spokesperson previously said most hired will be full time, earning between $12 and $14 an hour, with higher pays for managers and maintenance employees.