98 / 120
/98/
transport systems. The Government approved the Plan in 2013 and immediately tasked
a state-owned company, NTA – Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd, with the design
and construction of the Red Line LRT Project. The tunneling works for the Red Line
commenced on 2 August 2015.
The Red Line LRT Project is a light rail transit line, part at-grade (at the same level) and
part underground, between the eastern and southern inner rings of the Gush Dan area.
The line is currently under construction by Israeli construction companies, working in
partnership with international contractors such as China Civil Engineering Construction
Corporation and China Railway Group Limited and with international consultants such
as WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff. The opening of the Red Line is scheduled for 2021 and
is estimated to cost US$3.5 billion.
Additional LTR and BRT Lines
The Plan envisages four additional light rail transit lines and at least two bus rapid transit
lines to be built in the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area.
On 2 August 2016 the Minister of Transport announced that construction of two of
the light rail transit lines will commence in 2018. The Green Line will run from south to
north and the Purple Line will run from east to west; both will join the already under
construction Red Line. Early estimates put the combined construction costs of the
Green and Purple Lines at around US$7.5 billion.
The other two planned light rail transit lines are the Yellow Line, connecting the northern
and eastern inner rings, and the Brown Line, connecting the southern inner and median
rings of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area.
In addition, two bus rapid transit lines (BRTs) are planned for the median ring of the Tel
Aviv Metropolitan Area.
Tel Aviv Metro Project
On 12 August 2016, the Israeli Government approved its Economic Plan for 2017
and 2018, which includes plans to construct an underground railway system in the Tel
Aviv Metropolitan Area. This so-called “Metro Project” is expected to be the largest
and most expensive project undertaken in Israel, with an estimated cost of more than
US$25 billion.
Tel Aviv Fast Lanes
On 16 August 2016, the Accountant General of Israel published the pre-qualification
tender documents for the planning, financing, construction, operation and maintenance
of major Park & Ride areas, to accommodate some 11,000 vehicles; the operation
and maintenance of approximately 100 kilometers of toll-lanes alongside the Ayalon
Highway and Highway 5; the operation of shuttle systems between the planned Park &
Ride areas and the main areas of the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area; and the construction of
the new Highway 541.
The last date for submitting pre-qualification forms is scheduled for 1 January 2017,
which presents an immediate opportunity for developers, contractors and consultants
to become involved in this massive project to develop infrastructure in the booming
business and social hub of Israel.
Have we mentioned already that all roads lead to Tel Aviv?