Route 6 Elevated Highway Plan: NIS 5 Billion for 48 km of New Lanes

Transportation Minister Miri Regev has unveiled a NIS 5 billion ($1.48 billion) plan to construct 48 kilometres of elevated highway above the most congested sections of Route 6, Israel's primary north-south toll highway. The ambitious project aims to dramatically reduce daily travel times for hundreds of thousands of commuters. The northern segment will add 16 km of elevated roadway between the Nahshonim and Eyal interchanges, while the southern section will span 32 km between the Baqa-Jatt and Horshim interchanges. Each direction will feature two elevated lanes plus an additional dedicated lane for public transportation and carpooling, creating a total of five lanes in each direction on the most heavily trafficked corridors. Cross Israel Highway Ltd, which operates Route 6, estimates the new lanes will save drivers a collective 36,000 hours per day. The Transportation Ministry projects the total annual economic impact at approximately NIS 110 million ($32 million). The project is estimated to take five years to complete. Separately, the extension of Route 6 to northern Israel is progressing, with six bids already submitted for construction, operation, and maintenance. Work continues on widening 60 km of the existing highway, with the current 188 km route expected to stretch to 220 km when all expansion projects are finished. A southern extension from Shoket Interchange to Nevatim Interchange will add 11.5 km of new two-lane highway in both directions, including two new interchanges and several bridges.