Israel Braces for Holiday Travel Gridlock as Rosh Hashanah Begins

Israel's Traffic Division has issued a detailed map of expected congestion as hundreds of thousands of families travel for the Rosh Hashanah holiday, which begins Friday evening. Heavy traffic is already being reported across the country, with the "bottlenecks" anticipated to peak around 4 p.m. on Friday, just two hours before the holiday commences.

The most affected routes include Highway 1 and Highway 443 leading to Jerusalem, Highway 6 throughout its length, particularly northbound, and coastal roads like Highway 2 and Highway 4 from central Israel to Haifa. Northern routes, including Highways 65 and 77 near the Sea of Galilee, are also experiencing significant delays.

To manage the surge and ensure safety, the Israel Police has deployed hundreds of officers, volunteers, marked and unmarked patrol cars, motorcycles, and surveillance equipment to key junctions and roads. These forces will focus on regulating traffic, providing rapid assistance for incidents, and strictly enforcing laws against dangerous driving, including drunk driving, speeding, and distracted driving.

The Traffic Division advises drivers to depart early, stay updated on real-time navigation apps, and exercise patience during their journeys.