Israel Begins Major Metro Tunnel Excavation for New M2 Line Next Month

The Tel Aviv metropolitan area metro project is entering a critical construction phase as the Menarv Group won the tender to build the first launch shaft for the M2 metro line. This shaft, a complex engineering feat, involves digging a 35-meter deep pit, equivalent to a 12-story building's height. Next month, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) will be lowered into this shaft by a special crane to start excavating the underground metro tunnels. The entire metro project plans to operate about 24 TBMs simultaneously.

The M2 line will span approximately 26 kilometers with 22 stations, connecting key cities including Petah Tikva, Givat Shmuel, Bnei Brak, Givatayim, Tel Aviv, and Holon. It is expected to serve over half a million passengers daily. The route passes through major demand centers such as Bar-Ilan University, the Peace Complex and Kirya, Bima Square, Carmel Market, and Wolfson Medical Center. Construction will begin in the Kfar Ganim area of Petah Tikva.

Adi Kein Karni, Deputy CEO of NTA and M2 line manager, emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating that the metro will transform transportation in Israel, improve millions of residents' quality of life, and enable faster, more efficient, and convenient travel. This development is part of broader efforts to address urban congestion and modernize public transit infrastructure in the region.