Shikun & Binui Holdings Ltd. (TASE: SKBN) subsidiary Shikun u'Binui Solel Boneh Building and Infrastructure Ltd. today won the tender to build a new section of Road 6 (the Cross-Israel Highway or Yitzhak Rabin Highway) in the south. The work is part of Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz's plan to extend Road 6 to the Hanegev Junction, south of Beersheva.
The tender published by Israel National Roads Company Ltd. is for the six-kilometer Section 21 of Road 6 between the Rahat Intersection and the Lehavim Intersection. The estimated cost of the project is NIS 300 million, and it is due to be completed by mid-2015.
Katz said that extending Road 6 southward under the Netivei Israel plan was part of the project to link the Galilee and Negev to central Israel with a network of highways and railroads. He added that another tender would soon be published for the section of Road 6 between Lehavim Intersection and the Lakiya Intersection, and that by the end of the year another tender would be published for the section between the Lakiya Intersection and the Shoket Intersection. These two stretches total 11 kilometers.
"Paving the new section between Lehavim Intersection and the Negev Junction will divert traffic passing southward away from Beersheva, improving traffic safety in the city. It will also greatly improve access to IDF bases in the area," said Katz.
Katz added that the Ministry of Transport and Cross Israel Highway Company Ltd. were preparing for the building of northern sections of the toll road between Yokne'am and the Somech Interchange. The 17-kilometer stretch will include three tunnels with a total length of five kilometers.
The northern sections of Road 6 are in the advanced BOT tender stages, with bids due to be submitted in early 2013. Construction is scheduled to be completed within three years.
Road 6 currently stretches 140 kilometers between Ein Tut Interchange near Yokne'am in the north and Ma'ahaz Interchange in the south. It is a toll road between Ein Tut and the Soreq Interchange.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 20, 2012
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2012