The cabinet is due to approve the upgrade of Road 1 (the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway) at today's meeting. The NIS 2.5 billion project will shorten the road and cut travel time between the two cities to just 30 minutes.
Hebrew daily "Yediot Ahronot" today unveiled details of the project, which is due to be completed in 2016. Road 1 will be widened to three lanes in each direction, and new tunnels and bridges will shorten its length.
The section of the road between Shaar Hagai and the Shoresh interchange will be raised by eight meters to prevent environmental damage and to make travel safer. A 700-meter ecological bridge will be built before the Shoresh interchange to protect the environment and fauna.
A new interchange will be built at Neve Ilan. Entry to Abu Ghosh, Ein Rofeh, and Ein Nekuba will be via a new road that will be built beneath the highway. The overpass at Ein Hemed will be demolished and replaced with a new one. A tunnel will be built under the Harel Interchange with a new entrance to Mevasseret Zion near Ein Hemed, while two new bridges will straighten out the Motza curve.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 3, 2011
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