Givat Sharet Interchange Remains Incomplete Nine Months After Official Opening Announcement

Nine months after Transport Minister Miri Regev proudly announced the opening of the Givat Sharet interchange near Beit Shemesh, the project remains unfinished and continues to cause traffic congestion during peak hours. The interchange, part of a series of infrastructure improvements along Highway 38 connecting Beit Shemesh and the Emek Hefer settlements to Highway 1, was intended to improve safety and accessibility for the rapidly growing city. Despite a 200 million shekel investment, the road narrows from two lanes to one beyond the new bridge due to ongoing archaeological excavations, which have delayed full completion.

Regev had declared the interchange open in December last year, with expectations that all work would finish within four months, by March. However, the archaeological work, conducted under the supervision of the Israel Antiquities Authority, uncovered significant findings that have postponed the project. The National Roads Company (Netivei Israel) stated that while the main construction was completed in December, the archaeological excavations continue and have delayed opening the additional lane. They anticipate resuming work and completing the project, including opening the second lane, within the coming month.

The delay has resulted in long waits and traffic jams on both sides of the bridge during morning and afternoon rush hours, frustrating commuters who expected improved traffic flow. The Antiquities Authority referred inquiries to Netivei Israel, which has not provided a firm timeline beyond the upcoming resumption of work. The Givat Sharet interchange remains a critical infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity and safety in the region, but its completion timeline remains uncertain due to the archaeological discoveries.