Drivers and public transportation passengers across Israel are expected to face widespread disruptions over the coming week, with major highway closures, changes to train services, and diversions affecting dozens of bus routes beginning on Thursday night.
The most significant disruptions are expected in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and the Sharon region, where sections of the Ayalon Highway will be closed in both directions. Roadwork and infrastructure projects will also affect travel in Jerusalem, Modi'in, Bnei Brak, and several other cities.
Major closures on the Ayalon Highway, one of central Israel's busiest roads, will begin Thursday, November 5, at 11:30 p.m. and last until Friday at 4:00 p.m.
The closures are part of an Israel Electric Corporation project to replace power cables crossing Highway 20 and nearby railroad tracks.
Northbound lanes will be closed between the Glilot East Interchange and the Shiv'at HaKochavim Interchange near Herzliya. The entrance ramp from Highway 5 to the northbound Ayalon Highway will also be closed, although drivers can still enter the highway heading north from the Shiv'at HaKochavim Interchange.
Southbound lanes will be closed between the HaMa'apilim Interchange and the Glilot East Interchange. Southbound entrances from the Shiv'at HaKochavim Interchange and Highway 543 at the Shfayim East Interchange will also be blocked.
A second round of closures is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, beginning at 11:00 p.m. and continuing until Sunday at 5:00 a.m.
Traffic will be diverted to Highways 2, 4, and 5 during the work. Drivers are advised to check navigation apps for alternative routes before traveling.
Train services between Tel Aviv, Herzliya to be disrupted
The Ayalon Highway closures will coincide with changes to train services between Tel Aviv and Herzliya.
Israel Railways announced that services in the area will be affected on Friday, November 6, and Saturday night, November 7, due to electrical infrastructure work and additional safety work near Tel Baruch in northern Tel Aviv.
The disruptions will begin at 12:01 a.m. Friday, and some journeys will require passengers to use free replacement shuttle buses.
Passengers are advised to check updated train schedules, routes, and shuttle services before traveling.
Additional road closures are planned across Tel Aviv over the coming days, beginning with electrical infrastructure work along Arlozorov Street.
Starting Thursday at 10:00 p.m., crews will work along the section between Weizmann Street and Namir Road. The project is expected to last approximately five days.
During the work, the affected section of Arlozorov Street will be closed to eastbound traffic. Henrietta Szold Street will become a dead end between HaTamar Street and Arlozorov Street. Traffic lanes will also be reduced, and several bus routes and stops will be changed.
Further disruptions are expected at La Guardia Junction on Sunday and Monday nights, November 8 and 9, between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. the following morning.
The closures will affect bus routes 299, 506, 632, and 633, among others.
Additional closures are scheduled at the same junction on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, November 10 and 11, during the same hours. These will affect bus routes 111, 460, 462, and 500.
Some stops will be temporarily suspended, with alternative stops provided for affected passengers.
Highway 461, Bnei Brak to face nighttime closures
Drivers using Highway 461 in central Israel will face nighttime closures from Sunday through Tuesday, November 8 to 10, as construction continues on the Purple Line of the Tel Aviv Light Rail.
The work will take place between Savyon Junction and Avia Junction.
On Sunday and Monday nights, eastbound lanes will be closed between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. On Tuesday, the closure will begin earlier, at 8:00 p.m., and continue until 5:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Additional changes to bus stops, public transportation routes, and traffic lanes will take effect Monday at 9:00 a.m. and continue until Wednesday at 5:00 a.m.
New traffic arrangements are also scheduled to take effect in the Neve Monosson area on Wednesday, November 11.
In Bnei Brak, Kahaneman Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between Kibbutz Galuyot Street and Avraham Ben David Street from Sunday through Thursday, November 8 to 12.
The closures will take place each night between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. as crews relocate infrastructure ahead of construction of the M2 metro line, part of the planned Tel Aviv metropolitan subway system.
In addition, public transportation in Modi'in, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, will face extensive disruptions from Sunday, November 8, at 9:00 a.m. until Friday, November 13, at 9:00 a.m.
During this period, a section of Dam HaMaccabim Street will be closed for infrastructure work and road resurfacing, with crews operating around the clock.
The closure will extend from the Harzit Roundabout, including the intersection, to the Admonit Roundabout, which will remain open.
According to bus operator Kavim, the work will affect 18 routes: 27, 33, 50, 54, 56, 57, 80, 81, 95, 107, 110, 111, 112, 113, 117, 150, 201, and 202.
Passengers should expect route changes, temporary stop closures, and alternative boarding locations throughout the project.
In Jerusalem, the northbound Lifta Tunnel will be closed between the Givat Shaul Interchange and the tunnel exit near Sha'arei Yerushalayim as part of construction work on a dedicated bus lane along Begin Road.
The closures are scheduled for nighttime hours between November 9 and 11, from midnight to 5:00 a.m.
Bus routes 133, 226, 237, and 246 will be diverted via Begin Boulevard, Rabin Boulevard, Herzl Boulevard, and Weizmann Boulevard. Kavim said no stops would be canceled on these routes.
In Lod, southeast of Tel Aviv, ongoing infrastructure work along Haim Moshe Shapira Street continues to affect southbound traffic between HaPrahim Street and Greenboim Street.
The closures began November 1 and are expected to remain in effect until November 15 at 8:30 a.m.
Bus routes 2, 6, 9, 11, and 460 are operating along alternative routes, while two stops within the construction area have been temporarily closed.
Races, festivals to cause additional road closures
In addition to infrastructure projects, several local events will lead to road closures on Thursday and Friday.
In Yavne, south of Tel Aviv, a nighttime race will require road closures Thursday between 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m.
Zvi Gov-Ari Road will be closed in both directions between Jabotinsky Boulevard and the Yavne South Interchange, with additional traffic restrictions near the interchange and on surrounding streets.
In Harish, in northern Israel, Derech Eretz Boulevard will be closed in both directions between Tamar Roundabout and Tzalon Roundabout on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. because of a local festival.
Bus routes 20, 160, and 634 will be diverted during the event.
Additional closures are expected Friday, November 6, in northern Israel and the Sharon region.
In Nesher, near Haifa, Bar Yehuda Road will be closed in both directions between Yagur Junction and Check Post Junction from 4:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. due to a race. Bus route 796 will operate on an alternative route.
In Pardesiya, in the Sharon region, Ben-Gurion Street, HaBrosh Street, Derech HaAchva, and Derech HaReut will be closed between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Bus routes 42 and 45 will not enter the community while the closures are in effect.
Ashkelon, Sderot train stations to close next week
Train passengers in southern Israel will face further disruptions toward the end of next week, when infrastructure work in the Ashdod area forces the temporary closure of Ashkelon and Sderot train stations.
Israel Railways announced that the stations will be closed on Thursday and Friday, November 12 and 13.
As a result, trains on the Beersheba Center to Herzliya line, which normally runs through Ofakim, Netivot, and Sderot, will operate in two separate sections.
One service will run between Beersheba Central and Netivot, while another will operate between Ashdod and Herzliya.
Trains on the Ashkelon to Binyamina line will begin and end their journeys at Ashdod Station instead of Ashkelon.
Services from Beersheba northward via Kiryat Gat will continue operating as usual.
Israel Railways will provide free replacement shuttle buses for affected passengers. Regular train services are expected to resume Saturday night, November 14.
Additional bus disruptions expected in Ashdod
Separate infrastructure work will affect bus services in Ashdod from Sunday through Thursday, November 8 to 12.
Crews will work at the intersection of HaPalmach and Yeshayahu streets between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day.
Bus route 881 will be diverted in both directions, while four stops in the HaPalmach Boulevard area will be temporarily closed.
Drivers and public transportation passengers are advised to check their routes before traveling, as closures and service changes will vary by location and time.
Updated information is available through navigation apps and transportation operators' websites. Train passengers can contact Israel Railways at *5770, while bus passengers can call the national public transportation information hotline at *4515.
The Israel Police, the Ayalon Highways Company, and security authorities are coordinating the work.
Follow us on GoogleSource: The Jerusalem Post · MOSHE COHEN
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