Weekend Travel Chaos Expected Due to Weather and Roadwork
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Israel anticipates major traffic jams this weekend due to extensive roadwork on Ayalon Highway and severe weather warnings. Ayalon Highway will be fully closed in both directions at different times from November 5-8, impacting travel and public transportation. Heavy rains and flash floods are also forecast, prompting police to advise against non-essential travel and warn of dangerous conditions.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ayalon Highway (Route 20) will face complete closures this weekend for infrastructure work.
- Severe weather with heavy rain and flood warnings is expected from Friday through Sunday.
- Several Israel Railways lines will operate on split or shortened schedules.
- Police recommend avoiding non-essential travel due to expected traffic disruptions and weather.
- Authorities warn of life-threatening dangers from flash floods and overflowing waterways.
Israel is bracing for significant traffic disruptions this weekend, November 5-8, 2026, as extensive infrastructure work coincides with a forecast for severe weather. The Israel Electric Corporation will be undertaking complex projects to replace power cables crossing Ayalon Highway (Route 20) and the railway lines, necessitating complete closures of Ayalon Highway in both directions during specific windows. The first closure runs from Thursday night, November 5th, at 11:30 PM until Friday afternoon, November 6th, at 4:00 PM. The second closure is scheduled from Saturday night, November 7th, at 11:00 PM until Sunday morning, November 8th, at 5:00 AM. Traffic will be diverted to parallel routes including Highways 2, 4, and 5, with police recommending drivers use Waze for real-time navigation.
In addition to road closures, Israel Railways announced that several lines will operate on a split or shortened schedule on Friday, November 6th, and Saturday night, November 7th. Key lines like Modi'in-Nahariya, Be'er Sheva-Nahariya, and Ashkelon-Binyamina will be split into northern and southern segments, with southern segments ending at Tel Aviv Savidor Center and northern segments starting at Herzliya. Other lines, including Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon-Herzliya and Beit Shemesh-Netanya, will terminate at Tel Aviv Savidor Center, bypassing northern Tel Aviv and Herzliya stations. Free shuttle services will be provided for affected passengers.
Compounding the travel issues, the Meteorological Service, police, and fire department have issued warnings for a significant storm system expected from Friday morning, November 6th, through Sunday, November 8th. Heavy rainfall, potentially exceeding 100mm, is predicted across a wide area, leading to a high risk of flash floods and urban flooding, particularly in central Israel. Authorities are urging the public to avoid non-essential travel and to stay away from streams and flood-prone areas. They also warned against entering underground areas like basements and parking garages during floods, emphasizing the life-threatening danger of being swept away or drowning.
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