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 travel hour is predicted to be around 4:00 PM, and authorities are advising the public to depart as early as possible.

Major routes expected to experience significant delays include Highways 1, 2, 4, 6, 20 (Ayalon Highways), and 443. Some of these roads are already experiencing congestion, with Highway 2 heavily trafficked between the Olga and Zichron Yaakov interchanges, and Highway 1 congested between the Sha'ar HaGai and Sorek interchanges.

Jerusalem will see traffic disruptions and road closures, particularly around the Old City, due to the large influx of worshippers and visitors for Selichot prayers. Private vehicles and buses will be restricted from entering the Old City area, with police recommending the use of public transportation and "Park and Ride" lots. Similar congestion is expected on Saturday morning and early afternoon, especially in the north, due to holiday travelers.

In addition to traffic management, thousands of police officers, Border Police, and volunteers have been deployed across Jerusalem, its surroundings, holy sites, and crowded public areas. The Ministry of Transportation is also on heightened alert, with its situation room operating throughout the holiday and prepared for rapid transitions from routine to emergency operations. The ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Defense to potentially provide transportation for IDF soldiers during the holiday and has instructed its affiliated companies to prepare for various scenarios based on security and Home Front Command directives.