(live here) – In recent weeks, residents of Haifa have been complaining that the roads throughout the city are full of potholes. The holes, it seems, were created during the significant rain system that occurred about three weeks ago as well as the one after it, which we experienced in the last few days. The Haifa municipality claims that the issue is being dealt with, and yet, a short drive with the car on the city's roads provides Haifa drivers with a particularly unpleasant experience...
◄Potholes on Haifa roads • Watch
Nuisance and safety hazard
Potholes on the roads are a nuisance, without a doubt, but beyond the unpleasantness, they can be a real safety hazard. Many Haifa residents testify that they experience the problem first hand when they drive on the city's roads, and even when walking on the sidewalks. What causes the formation of potholes and who is responsible for treating them?
The main reasons for the formation of potholes on the roads are rain, water and humidity, and this is also the reason why they are formed more in winter. These reasons cause cracks that turn into potholes over time, which adds to the load on the roads.
In an inspection conducted in the past by the Green Light Association in collaboration with the Israel Defense and Investigations College, it was found that on many roads in Israel there are potholes along the road, which constitute an obstacle. The inspection found road hazards of several types. Potholes created on the road at the end of the facilities. and a hazard such as an unprotected edge of a curb or guardrail.
These hazards create a disturbance and even endanger road users because they may cause sudden braking or entering a pothole and air escaping from one of the vehicle's wheels. Which causes loss of control of the vehicle and risk of a car accident.
The association explains: "Potholes in the road and hazards that are an obstacle on the way are dangerous and may cause a traffic accident. The local authorities and the state must take responsibility for these hazards and fix them immediately before the danger from them materializes."
Who should care?
The laws of local authorities determine the duty and authority of the local authority for the development, paving and maintenance of public roads - roads and sidewalks - within its jurisdiction. In order to minimize as much as possible the amount of damage and the safety hazards caused as a result of them, and in order for the local authority to optimally fulfill its duty and authority regarding the maintenance of the public roads within its area, it must prepare a long-term plan for the preventive maintenance of the roads - periodic treatment that is done once every few years - from which plans will be derived Annual maintenance. All this, in addition to routine maintenance repairs that are done throughout the year, including breakdown maintenance - infrastructure repairs and immediate treatments following the formation of hazards such as potholes on roads and sidewalks.
We contacted Haifa Municipality several times in an attempt to get answers on this important issue, but unfortunately we were left with our questions, but without answers.
- When does the municipality intend to treat and seal those potholes in order to reduce damage to vehicles and reduce accidents?
- What is the plan for dealing with potholes in the short term as well as in the long term?
No response was given from the Haifa municipality.
Have you encountered a pothole on the road or sidewalk?
You are invited to take a picture and send it to us on Hai Pa's WhatsApp - at the link:
The condition of the roads since the decisions during the Mitzna period regardless of the cliché.
During the Mitzna period, several disastrous decisions were made:
A. Using asphalt of the cheap type, which requires re-layering every few years instead of high-quality asphalt
B. Eckerstein interlocking stones. Very durable, but it will take 200 years to line all of Haifa with them. So stop and go back to cheap asphalt on the sidewalks as well (that's why they also have potholes)
third. Tama 38 - Heavy trucks and crane trucks of the construction industry lower "stabilizing legs" and create potholes and cracks in the streets of the neighborhoods.
And what does the municipality do?
is nothing. A little more re-stratification here, re-stratification there. All the streets look like salami strips from most of the 4-5 times they have done layering repairs.
Then they re-layer again with the cheap asphalt - the street looks beautiful before the elections and then after 3 years of the layering there are potholes and cracks again
Those who want an illustration of the state of Haifa's roads compared to the neighboring cities are simply welcome to go up from Nesher to the Technion and Neve Shanan. Just when the jurisdiction of Nesher ends and the jurisdiction of Haifa begins (after the Ben Dor neighborhood) you immediately discover the clear difference: Nesher roads are well paved without potholes and the road (the same road) becomes a Haifa road and that's where the jeep starts, potholes, repeated repairs and what not. Just like in Gaza after October 7. But it didn't happen last winter. This is the state of these roads since Klish was elected!☹️ Come on, go already, enough...🙏🏻
Masada Street for example - in a small section there is a "boulevard" of potholes. Every rain a pit opens, the municipality seals it, in the next rain it opens again (with another next to it). It's been like this for over 20 years.
A significant part of the pits was created at the edge of the road sawing for the transfer of cable pipelines 40 years ago. This shows that the road has not been re-graded since then. See for example dangerous potholes in front of 6 Haddam St. in Hadar.
Wow, they are right!!
Help?
What to do?
Transportation engineers will tell you the truth about potholes.
The municipality of Haifa is paving with the cheapest and most durable asphalt because the money goes to huge salaries and pensions.
There is 2x more durable asphalt that also prevents slipping in the rain. In most of Europe it is already mandatory in the standard, but not here and mayors take advantage of it to layer with cheap and bad asphalt
The real reason why Boro exists. On the road, there is no quality control for the contractors who perform the works.
A quality check over time will put the contractors who have fewer repairs in front and the others will avoid the possibility of doing road works that end up costing a lot of money and causing a lot of damage.
But the municipality does not behave like a brave economic John and therefore fails to think like this here as well.
The time has come for a change in the status of the gray officials in the city engineer's office and the other departments.
The lawlessness and humiliation of the residents of Haifa, especially in the neighborhoods of Shprincek. Potholes in the roads that cause enormous wear and tear on vehicles and endanger the drivers from sunken sidewalks that endanger those who use them.
Keep voting cliché and the number of idiots will be 1000000 times more than it is today.
Keep voting cliche and the number of syllables will be 1000000 times more than it is today.
Soon Klish will do a sponsored advertisement like Yahav and Zion on the site and all the comments will be closed and deleted.
Why are we treated?? I changed 2 tires in Sukkot and another 2 today... a total of only 1400 shekels.. Kelly Ralot.. and this when in this period since the corona virus I doubt if she goes over 5000 km a year!!!!
And to this it was said: Good morning Elijah. Regardless of the blessing rains that have fallen on us recently, even before them the condition of the roads in the city is so bad that they look like after the IDF bombarded Gaza. It is enough to see the roads leading to and Horev intersection to understand what it is about. I and others were alerted but for a response from the municipality It's okay to forget, Einat, Judgment Day is coming and you will pay dearly for all your mistakes.
Kiryat Haim Industry Pioneers Road No. 114 to 126 There are car potholes if there is a flat tire every time it is sent to the municipality
Really terrible!
Full of potholes throughout the Kiryats
The city is full of potholes. You have to report every pothole all the time and you have to sue the municipality for damages to the car (accidents, etc.) if you stay silent nothing will change. The property tax is high enough and this is part of its purpose - adequate infrastructure
Everything is as shabby as in a third world country.
The main thing is that property taxes are skyrocketing every year..
The treatment of potholes that open in the winter season is not professional.
Repairs using the "patches" method and the repair / repair does not prove durability even during one rainy season.
No conclusions are drawn and there is no adequate treatment.
A known problem for decades.
There are always promises before the elections to the authorities.
Later - we will forget everything.
They photograph one pothole and write that there are many potholes on Haifa's roads. I saw with my own eyes that the pits are being covered. It is impossible at that moment to plug all the potholes in the city.
The sunken stones are a danger from falling
Also take care of the sidewalks
The Romans built two thousand years ago and more, roads that last, without any maintenance, to this day...
Modern man does not succeed.
The sidewalks are also rickety