New Interchange to Ease Traffic on Coastal Highway Near Tel Aviv

A new interchange, dubbed "Chozeh HaMedinah" (State Covenant) or "HaRav Mekar," is set to be constructed on Israel's Coastal Highway (Highway 2) near Tel Aviv, connecting Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon. The project, approved by the Tel Aviv District planner in the Planning Administration, Erez Ben-Eliyazer, aims to create a new transportation link and alleviate congestion, particularly around the existing Sira Interchange.

The interchange will directly connect the developing industrial zone in northern Glilot, Ramat Hasharon, with the Herzliya Pituah industrial area and the coastline. A new, innovatively designed arched bridge will span the Coastal Highway, facilitating east-west traffic flow. This interchange is envisioned as a crucial component of a future metropolitan axis designed to create seamless movement from the coast to the urban centers of Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon, offering an alternative to the heavily trafficked Shivat HaKochavim axis.

Further development is planned, including complementary bridges like the "Galil Yam" bridge over the Ayalon Highway (Highway 20). The design emphasizes a "road diet" principle, replacing original extensive road loops with a more compact structure. This approach enhances transportation efficiency while freeing up dozens of dunams of land for urban development and public open spaces.

This planning strategy, promoted by the Tel Aviv District of the Planning Administration in collaboration with Netivei Ayalon, is also being implemented in the design of the Wolfson Interchange in Holon. The goal is to minimize the footprint of transportation infrastructure and reclaim significant areas for the benefit of the city and the public. The project's advancement was accelerated in the last two years by Netivei Ayalon and the Israel Land Authority after a prolonged period of being frozen.