Israel’s capital, Jerusalem, is well-known for many things, including traffic. The ancient city in recent years has been trying to upgrade its old road system with numerous projects.
The city’s light-rail and new train station were major game changers in preventing traffic build-up, but now a new “ground-breaking” project will help accommodate those who still chose to navigate the City of Zion by car.
A new segment of road and tunnel opened in Jerusalem that enables travel to Route 1 to Tel Aviv and vice versa from the southwestern side of the city entrance at the Beit HaKarem area near the Begin, it’s called route 16 for some reason, but it’s a connector highway segment pic.twitter.com/6Kbb7xXCwc
— Seth Frantzman (@sfrantzman) September 1, 2022
After nine years of planning and work, the new road to Jerusalem, road No. 16 named after the late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was opened to the public. The new route is designed to improve accessibility to the capital and allow faster and easier access to southern and western parts of Jerusalem. The road connects the main highway, Route 1 which is also known as the 'Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway,' to the Givat Shaul industrial area and Be'it Street in the city, near the Givat Mordechai interchange on Route 50, also known as 'Menachem Begin Boulevard.' The connection to Sderot Begin is still under construction.
In what is truly a miracle, given the country's track record on civil infrastructure projects, the road was opened to traffic about a year earlier than the planned date. While God might have had a hand in the quick build, the contracting company, "Shapir Pizzarotti" is getting most of the credit. The company constructed the infrastructure for the relatively new high-speed rail that connects Jerusalem with Modi'in, Ben Gurion Airport, and Tel Aviv.
Now that I look back on our conversation from more than 2 years ago -- I can say Israel is now reaping rewards. I drove yesterday on the brand new Highway 16 -- connecting south-middle Jerusalem (Shaarei Tzedek hosp) with Hwy 1 Motza. Completed a year ahead of schedule bc Covid https://t.co/GpoDPGtNgX
— David Hazony (@davidhazony) September 4, 2022
The length of the new road is about 6 kilometers long and it includes 4 tunnels, 7 bridges, and 3 interchanges - Moza, Ravida and Be'it (near the Shaarei Zedek Hospital). The speed limit will be 80 km/h, and it is expected to increase in the future to 110 km/h. Its construction costs were over one billion NIS.
As part of the construction of the road, the local road system and existing infrastructure were also upgraded, and about 700 new trees were planted. The project also includes extensive landscape development that allows access to the Jerusalem forest and its surroundings while building bicycle paths, recreation areas, and observation points. The construction of the road was approved in March 2013.
The opening of the road will also make it possible to inaugurate a new bus line from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, Egged's line 490, which will travel through the fast lanes (HOV) and depart every half hour. The line will start its operation from the Talpiot Terminal, will pass through Hebron Road (Givat HaMatus), the Rosemarin Interchange, Teddy Stadium, Pat Junction, Nayot Junction, Givat Mordechai, and through the new road straight to Tel Aviv until the final stop at Savidor Center Station.
Watch: Jerusalem New Highway #16; Ariel Sharon Road Saves Drivers a Tremendous Amount of Time (Video)https://t.co/JiT0uRva4l
— BJLife (@BJLife) September 1, 2022
The road includes two tunnels that will pass under the Har Nof and Yafa Nof neighborhoods and the eastern part of Mount Herzl. Between the two tunnels, the road passes by a bridge over the Ravida stream. In the future, residents of the city will be able to enter the city via the road, park in the Bate parking lot located near the light rail's 'Green Line', and move around the city using the light rail.
