Hebrew daily "Yediot Ahronot" reports that the National Infrastructures Committee met to approve construction of a new interchange on Road 531, only to discover that it was already partly built.
The National Infrastructures Committee, which is supposed to be the spearhead of the local and regional planning commissions, was established to make fast decisions to facilitate the construction of infrastructure projects. To avoid delays in the construction of the Malal Interchange between Kfar Saba and Hod Hasharon, it had already been decided to approve it incrementally. Six weeks ago, the National Infrastructures Committee was due to approve another section of this interchange, but the Ministry of Environmental Protection's representative showed to the other committee members pictures of the almost completed interchange. Only the interchange's overhead beams remain to be put into place.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection's representative said that this work was carried out without a permit, and that the contractor told him, "We're waiting for the committee in order to complete the casting."
"Even though the overpass has come up for discussion ahead of a permit, it already exists and is almost finished, except for the upper concrete layer. This illegal work went on for months, and it is unclear whether there are more building violations in this project, or if this is the only one," said the ministry's representative.
Road 531 contractor, Shapir Civil and Marine Engineering Ltd. said in response that it is not in breach of the permits.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on February 2, 2014
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