In a meeting between representatives of the Ministries of Finance and of Transport and the Jerusalem municipality, a decision was made to turn one lane of highway #1 into a toll road for private vehicles on the section from Mevasseret Zion to Jerusalem, and highway #9 (as yet unbuilt), from Motza to Jerusalem’s northern neighborhoods.
The toll roads, in which drivers using the road in traffic congested morning hours, will serve as a national pilot project under which Ministry of Transport officials will learn how the toll roads should be operated.
Sensors, able to read smart cards, will be deployed along the roads, with cameras to photograph approaching cars. Drivers using the roads will receive a periodic bill. Public transport will also use the lane on highway #1.
The cost of the project will be NIS 300 million including the laying of highway #9 and adaptation of highway #1 for a toll road. The preparations will enable access to Jerusalem’s northern neighborhoods – Ramot, Ramot Eshkol, French Hill, Neve Yaakov and Pisgat Zeev – and ease traffic at the Givat Shaul entrance to the city.
Highway #9 will be laid over a 5 kilometer stretch. It will include two large flyovers at Motza and Golda Meir Boulevard. A bridge will also be built west of the entrance to Jerusalem, and there will be a 400 meter two-lane tunnel.
A committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Transport and Jerusalem municipality has started initial screening of contractors to work on the tunnel. The tender for the tunnel stipulated Israeli contractors working in cooperation with overseas contractors with experience in tunnels. Following the tender, tenders for the highway #9 preparations will be published.
Published by Israel's Business Arena on 22 January, 2001