Israel Braces for Holiday Travel Chaos With Major Traffic Jams Expected

Israel is anticipating severe traffic congestion across the country as citizens travel for the Rosh Hashanah holiday. The police traffic division is preparing for heavy traffic, which is expected to begin in the early afternoon and intensify throughout the day. The peak hour for traffic is predicted around 4:00 PM, and authorities are advising the public to depart as early as possible.

Major highways expected to experience significant delays include Routes 1, 2, 4, 6, 20 (Ayalon Highways), and 443. Some routes are already experiencing congestion, with Route 2 heavily trafficked between the Olga and Zichron Yaakov interchanges, and Route 1 seeing delays between the Sha'ar HaGai and Sorek interchanges. Routes 65 and 77 are also expected to be busy.

In Jerusalem, traffic closures and restrictions are planned for the Old City area due to the large number of worshippers and visitors. Roads near the Old City, including Ma'ale HaShalom, HaOfel, Jaffa Gate, Yitzhak Kariv, and adjacent streets, will be intermittently blocked or have restricted access. The public is urged to avoid private vehicles in this area and utilize public transportation and "Park and Ride" lots.

Additional congestion is anticipated on Saturday morning and early afternoon, particularly in the north, due to holiday travelers. Thousands of police officers, Border Police, and volunteers have been deployed across Jerusalem, its surroundings, holy sites, and crowded areas to manage the holiday period.

The Ministry of Transportation is also on heightened alert, with its situation room operating throughout the holiday. The ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Defense and is prepared to provide transportation for IDF soldiers if necessary. Transportation companies have been instructed to prepare for various scenarios and follow directives from security forces and the Home Front Command.