Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Sunday morning 5 Cheshvan visited the neighborhood of Ramot to get a firsthand look at the daily vehicular standstill that has a growing number of residents more than frustrated and angry. The mayor was joined by a number of city engineers, councilmen and planning officials in the hope of devising a plan that would permit residents to head out in the morning without facing the staggering standstill that grows with each passing year.

Some residents explain that many motorists have learned they can bypass some of the standstill by entering Ramot and driving inside the community instead of remaining on Golda Meir Blvd. and this has led to standstills inside the community as well. Residents must allocate 30 minutes or more additional time in the hope of getting children to daycare in a timely fashion due to heavy traffic inside the community, not to mention the standstill on the main road.

Some experts feel that in addition to the growing number of vehicles, the matter is exacerbated by the thousands of vehicles heading to the Har Chotzvim High Tech area which employs many, including city residents and non-residents.

The mayoral delegation arrived on Sunday morning at 7:30AM at the Ramot Shopping Center as Mr. Barkat, a number of councilmen and senior police commanders looked on, watching the vehicular standstill. They were told that if a patient requires an ambulance, first responders may get to the scene on ambucycles but transport is an impossibility and leads to loss of life!

A member of the city’s traffic planning unit cited it would be beneficial to remove the traffic signal that monitors turning into Har Chotzvim and replace it with traffic squares and the cancellation of the curtly existing plaza at the entrance by the gas station.

The experts presented various solutions, some short term and some long term. The mayor told Kol Chai Radio that an interchange at Har Chotzvim from Route 22 was to have been built and new roads are in the works but they are years away as they have yet to receive the required permits. Some short-term plans that may assist, albeit providing limited improvement, include a shuttle service and transportation lane for vehicles with four or more occupants.

Senior city officials are planning to meet with Finance Ministry officials to discuss the matter on Monday, 6 Cheshvan.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)