Experts Warn Fourth Railway Track Construction May Cause Major Ayalon Flooding This Winter
Construction of the fourth railway track along the Ayalon corridor in central Israel has raised serious concerns about increased flooding risks during winter. The National Infrastructure Committee approved narrowing the Ayalon stream about a month ago, and work has already begun despite warnings from the Agriculture Ministry, Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality, and the Meteorological Service about extreme weather events in coming years. Existing drainage solutions remain incomplete, and a critical complementary project called "Meyoval LaYam" (Conduit to the Sea), designed to divert excess water via a large underground tunnel directly to the Mediterranean, lacks funding and planning progress.
To mitigate flooding risks, the government planned three major drainage projects: a large floodwater reservoir at Ariel Sharon Park costing hundreds of millions of shekels, a regulation reservoir at Mishmar Ayalon, and temporary retention reservoirs at Modiin and Netof quarries. However, experts including Dr. David Asaf from the Agriculture Ministry warn these measures are insufficient, estimating the flood risk has increased to once every 18 years instead of the standard once in 100 years. They emphasize that without "Meyoval LaYam," heavy floods will overwhelm the system, endangering the Ayalon transportation artery and nearby neighborhoods.
Tel Aviv-Yafo Deputy Mayor Meital Lahav also criticized the narrowing of the stream, calling it a downgrade to third-world drainage standards and warning of growing dangers to lives and property. The Agriculture Ministry’s Hydrological Service director, Hami Barnea, sent a sharp letter to the Finance and Transportation ministers, demanding a halt to the narrowing works until alternative drainage solutions are implemented.
The railway project itself is vital, as the current three-track section is a bottleneck handling 80% of passenger traffic, expected to grow from 72 million trips in 2025 to 300 million by 2040. The fourth track will nearly double capacity from 14 to 26 trains per hour each way. However, the project has faced repeated delays since the 1990s, with completion pushed from 2025 to 2032. Planning for fifth and sixth tracks is already underway.
The Transportation Ministry stated the drainage issue has been fully addressed according to professional standards and that the "Meyoval LaYam" project is being advanced statutorily, though no budget has yet been approved. The government faces a strategic choice: fund the costly drainage tunnel or reduce Ayalon highway lanes to expand rail capacity, decisions expected from the next government.
