The tunnels paved under the Carmel Ridge and the links between Haifa South and the Kariyat Interchange (the Check Post) are an important component of the Haifa transportation system and recently made headlines again with the increase in the tolls.
Properties
The western entrance of the tunnels is located near the congress center and allows access to roads 2 and 4 (south). The eastern entrance exits near the Kiryat interchange (check post) and allows access to highway 4 (north) and highway 75 (east). Each tunnel has 2 sections and between them an exit to Neve Shaanan near the "Grand Canyon".
The total length of the tunnels is about 4.7 km and the maximum allowed travel speed is 80 km/h.
Brief history
The first proposal to build a tunnel under the Carmel Ridge came up already during the days of the British Mandate. A similar proposal was then made in the 60s but without results. In the late 80s, the idea was brought to Mayor Goral, but it was not accepted. In the early 90s, the idea was put forward by Mayor Amram Metzna, who led steps to realize it.
Throughout the days of planning and implementation, the project provoked many objections and disputes for various reasons. 223 objections were submitted to the district committee or rejected. In September 98, the "Carmelton" company won the execution of the project for 4 years and the collection of tolls for 31 years. Carmelton united 4 companies for the accomplished task.
Funding and other problems delayed the project until 2007, the year the digging of the tunnels began. The excavation work was carried out by 2 companies, one Chinese and the other Israeli. The many tons of dirt excavated from the mountain during the quarrying were used, among other things, for the purpose of drying the sea as part of the construction of the "Carmel Terminal" docks. The inauguration ceremony of the tunnels was held in 2010 and since then they have become an essential component of the Haifa transportation system.
A free trip to Haifa?
The tunnels are actually toll roads, meaning that traveling through them involves a fee. The fee increase last year caused a lot of resentment. After the last increase, as of 1/10/24, the cost of travel for a subscriber, in a private vehicle, is 10.50 NIS per segment and 11.50 for a driver who is not a subscriber.
The mayor of the city, Mr. Yona Yahav, appealed to the government in April of this year, demanding the cancellation of the travel fee in the tunnels. In light of the government's non-response, Yahav announced that he intends to conduct negotiations with the government on the purchase of the tunnels with the aim of making traveling through them free for the residents of Haifa. What is certain is that this saga is far from over and the dream of free travel is still far away.
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All the best to you my friend David Bar On
Thank you very much, my friend Rafi, a good signature!
There won't be a free ride! Yona can maybe
Try to ask for a 50% discount and maybe
The request is more applicable. In the meantime, the prices
Promises and talks are coming up as usual.
Even a 50% discount is significant, isn't it? May you be signed and sealed in the book of life!
I am a resident of Haifa and live in the Carmel Range. Usually every time I leave the house, I need to get off there. I receive invoices of a minimum of NIS 300/400 every month. If it is not possible to do it for free, there are many options to reduce it. It's not black or white. We need to reach the equal valley and be creative because after all it is in Haifa and I think we do deserve something. Even limiting, for example, the amount of the invoice to NIS 100 is a great achievement. I wish something would come of it.
Thanks
When the Messiah comes on a donkey
The price for such a short trip - simply disgrace, shame and dishonor!
Also the municipality of Haifa in all its glory
So all residents of the center will register in Haifa
to start doing something in the city,
to learn from other mayors,
In Haifa hundreds of apartments and buildings are abandoned
Happy New Year to everyone. Another compromise was made by extending Route 22 along the railroad. As it should have ended after Fissel Square with two pavements
In the sports club "Gali Haifa", the former sportsman, the municipality of Haifa has been allowing completely free entry for everyone for a long time. The same goes for the performances of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra, the Municipal Theater and other municipal public facilities.
Everything is completely free.
Against this background, Yahav asked for a free ride in the Carmel tunnels.
I didn't understand, the ones who really need more are the residents of Kiryat and not Haifa
Why a free ride only for Haifa residents?
The anti-discrimination law speaks about this very clearly.
If we travel for free, then for everyone.
Or lower the price of travel for everyone.
Thank you for your response. There is no doubt that if it is to be, it must be equal and not only for Hifaim. Happy New Year!
I didn't understand the idea of a free trip to Haifa???
Those who travel more are more northern people who have to go through this nightmare called Haifa!!!
Not the Haifa people who have ways to get out of it or to get in and usually without the tunnels
Free for everyone and that the state will fund it because it doesn't make sense that in 2024 the only way to cross the Haifa Bay is through the congested city with a lane and a half or pay expensively and excessively
Thank you for your response. This is a populist idea that has no chance of being realized. Happy new year!
Never
Thank you for your response, maybe it will only be possible after the expiration of the existing agreement and even then for everyone and not only for Hifai! Happy New Year!
I say that the residents of Haifa should vote with their feet and not travel in the tunnels until the payment is lowered even for those who have a subscription, this is incomprehensible. And while rockets are being fired at the city, there will be an announcement in the tunnel that will stop the traffic until the rage passes
In my humble opinion, the tunnels should be open to the general public of drivers and not just to the residents of Haifa, because who decided that travel in the tunnels will be free only to the residents of Haifa, from here I am also appealing to the Mayor of Tirat Carmel, Mr. Dodo Cohen, to act through the Minister of Transportation so that travel will be free of charge for everyone, so that we can all enjoy a shortcut significantly.
Thanks for your response, please see my response to a similar response. Happy New Year
The trip in the tunnels will be free for Haifa residents while the trip in Ayalon will be free for Tel Avivians...
Thank you for your response. As far as I know, traveling on Ayalon is free. The cost of traveling through the tunnels is by virtue of an agreement.
Why only for hifis??? The rest of the citizens are your trash?? Are the other citizens less considered? Didn't they make an army and bear the burden of taxes in the country?? Some members of the families of IDF martyrs will be prevented from entering the tunnels. It is imperative to immediately stop the filthy extortion of all Israeli drivers
Thank you for your response. Don't worry, if free then for everyone! Happy New Year!
Strip yourself first…
Haifa Municipality operates the Carmelite
Why is the ride not free there?
Thank you for your response. Perhaps the answer lies in the saying: "There are no free meals..."? Happy New Year!
Peace to David. I suggest that you write about the houses at 47-51 Akiva St. In one of them lived MK and the well-known Mpainik David HaCohen. In his apartment, or next to it, the broadcasting station of "Free France" operated during World War II, and if it hasn't been taken down yet - then a sign to that effect is found on the protective wall at the entrance to the building. These protective walls are also worth a story, being a shield against bombs in that war and after.
Thank you very much for your suggestion, I will look into the story of the building. Happy New Year!
Yona, as usual, offers populist proposals that have no feasibility behind them.
This time - he offers to break an existing contract, knowing that the chance is zero.
agree with you Indeed, as far as I know, the existing contract is valid for 31 years (written in Wikipedia). Happy New Year!
The municipality of Haifa has an interest in people traveling in the tunnels - it reduces congestion in the city, less noise, air pollution, etc. Therefore, as a first step, if it really wants to make it easier for the residents of Haifa and not just make headlines, it can subsidize travel for Haifa residents or for everyone in several ways. My feeling is that the municipality deals with PR headlines and not solving problems
Thank you for your response. Indeed, the idea of the subsidy is interesting and more practical than the violation of the signed contract. Happy New Year!
The illustration is lovely. The text is interesting and to the point. I enjoyed it
Thank you very much, it is very nice to receive Paragon - a rare commodity in our places - Happy New Year!
I wanted us to wish ourselves that we have a quiet year and that our populist mayor will not have the opportunity to "run away" from the city's urgent problems such as, for example, revitalization in his shabby and old city neighborhoods where thousands of tenants have been signed with developers for a decade, not to mention decades, and his municipality is delaying projects towards issues that it is convenient for him to run away from to them as the public will be disciplined to the command of the home front and intimidation about sitting without electricity and populist statements to cancel the travel fee in the tunnels, etc.
Regarding the Carmel tunnels, the residents should "dust off" if only to lower the price of the trip or to freeze the price.
The cancellation of the toll in the Carmel tunnels will seriously damage its effectiveness because it will become a preferred artery and the traffic jams of the lower city and the Independence will pass through it, especially those who have no interest in entering the city and only want to take a shortcut from the north to the center of the country and few of them are Haifaites at all.
Thank you for your response, I join in the congratulations. Indeed, canceling the toll may also lead to negative results, life is not black/white... Happy New Year!