The High Court of Justice on Tuesday issued an order halting planned construction to widen and improve the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv Highway (Route1) in the area of Motza. The court heard a petition from residents of Jerusalem corridor communities, who maintain such a project will deliver a “fatal blow to the Jerusalem corridor landscape” as well as result in major traffic delays for years, delays that will pose prolonged life-threatening situations in the area. The legal motion was filed against the state, Ministry of 
Transportation and Maatz (National Roadwork Authority).

The master plan calls for widening the roadway, which experts explain is desperately needed due to the traffic volume realities today, as well as the construction of a bridge and tunnel through the mountain in the area, all towards radically improving the twisty area of the highway in that location.

The court explained that after receiving hundreds of objections to the project, the sides must sit around the table in direct talks towards trying to work out their differences. Most view the court’s ruling as a small victory, a delay at best, aware the plan is indeed essential towards accommodating today’s traffic realities on this major vehicular route.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)