New $3. 5B Lilly Plant to Bring Jobs and Green Ideas to Lehigh Valley

A big pharma company plans a $3. 5 billion factory in Upper Macungie Township that could give the area 850 steady jobs and almost 2, 000 construction gigs while boosting local traffic plans. The site sits on about 150 acres of farmland north of I‑78 and west of Fogelsville. It already has water, sewer, and road links that fit its size. Town officials have begun reviewing the plan. They want to make sure trucks and workers can get in and out without clogging Main Street or the surrounding homes. The company’s own traffic study said 90 trucks would come daily, but experts in the planning office used a standard guide and projected almost 300 trips. That means more parking, extra driveways, and better signage are needed. The commission also asked the developer to keep truck traffic off Main Street by adding a third gated entrance that leads straight to an onsite substation. They suggested building a bus stop on the property’s front side so future public transit can pick up riders. The plan would include benches, a shelter, lights, and trash cans to make it useful.Environmentally, the site has two streams that feed Little Lehigh Creek and some wetlands. The creek is “High Quality” water, so the company must keep a 150‑foot buffer on its banks. A county groundwater well sits near the parking entrance, so the developer must protect that water source too. The land has a lot of limestone caves and depressions, so proper underground testing is mandatory. Green building ideas are part of the discussion. The plant could add solar panels, green roofs, geothermal heating, and a system that reuses graywater for irrigation. Electric charging spots will be installed for visitors, while employees could have alternative fuel options for trucks and tractors. The site’s sidewalks will be expanded to the east side, and bike racks near entrances will encourage cycling. The township’s planning schedule is tight. A zoning hearing about driveway width is set for April 22, followed by a preliminary land‑use review on May 20. The final approval will come from township supervisors on June 4. If all goes well, the plant should start up around 2031, turning raw drug material into finished medicines and devices.