Hanover Township Solicitor Jackson Eaton informed Hanover Township Council members Oct. 19 about a decision by neighboring Allen Township to close Willowbrook Road.

Rockefeller Group, developers for the Fed-Ex warehouse project, originally asked for the road to be closed for five months during construction of access roads to the new warehouse hub, Eaton said.

Still a proposal, it was revised downward to two months. Rockefeller gave the reason for the proposed closure as a measure to protect the highway working crew.

None on the council is happy with the request.

Councilman Curtis Wegfahrt asked about a contingency in the Hanover Township Fed-Ex agreement that requires traffic flow be maintained on Willowbrook.

Eaton explained the agreement applies only to Hanover Township, but Allen Township could allow its portion of the road to be closed.

Catasauqua High School is located on the corner of Bullshead and Catasauqua roads.

The Catasauqua Area School District superintendent, Eaton said, had no problem with the closure. The school district reportedly told Allen Township it could work around the problem.

Residents who live near the high school are opposed to the closure and were instrumental in getting the proposal reduced from five months to two months, according to Eaton.

“Willowbrook is a busy road, but the work crews on Route 22 seem to be able to adapt to a high traffic level,” Councilman Michael Woolley commented.

In other business at the council meeting, township Manager Sandra Pudliner reported the new four-way stop sign is installed at the intersection of Airport Center Mall Road and Irving Street. According to Pudliner, local residents are pleased with the new arrangement. Residents at Allendale Apartments can now safely get onto Irving Street.