One month after the northern segment of Road 6 (the Yitzhak Rabin Highway or Cross-Israel Highway) was opened, a dispute has erupted regarding the next planned stretch of the highway further northwards.
Sources inform "Globes" that the Ministry of Transport is about to rule between alternative plans for the segment north of the Ein Tut Interchange near Yokne'am that was opened in July.
Road 6 operator Derech Eretz Highways Ltd. Ltd. wants to build a 1.5 kilometer tunnel on the next 4.5 kilometer segment northwards past Yokne'am and onto Tel Kashish in the Carmel Mountains region. However, the Israel National Road Company Ltd. prefers a cheaper plan, which would involve upgrading Road 70 and building a major interchange at the Tishby junction near Yokne'am. This plan would save NIS 600,000.
Israel National Road Company claims that the tunnel would be an unsuitably expensive investment, while Derech Eretz charges that without the tunnel Road 6 would become merely a main road instead of a fast road.
The Ministry of Transport is currently examining both plans and sources in the ministry believe that the more expensive Derech Eretz Highways plan will eventually be accepted.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 19, 2009
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