Minister of Transport Avigdor Lieberman has decided to upgrade the Sde Timan airfield, west of Beer Sheva, to handle domestic flights.
Following a working meeting with Negev Development Authority chairman Shmuel Rifman, Lieberman approved a NIS 11 million investment to develop the airfield’s infrastructure, including a new runway, terminal, and lighting. Lieberman said he had attached great importance to developing Sde Timan, as part of the Beer Sheva metropolitan plan, during his previous term as minister of national infrastructures.
The Negev Development Authority, the Bnei Shimon Regional Council and the Ministry of Transport are now completing the first stage work at Sde Timan, at a cost of NIS 2 million.
Commenting on the development of the Negev railway network, Lieberman said he planned to double the track from Tel Aviv to Beer Sheva, upgrade the line to Dimona, and build the Western Negev line from Beer Sheva, through Ofakim, Netivot, and Sderot to Ashkelon.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on July 20, 2003