Highway 6 (Hebrew: כביש 6, Kvish Shesh), also known as the Trans-Israel Highway or Cross-Israel Highway (Hebrew: כביש חוצה ישראל, Kvish Ḥotzeh Yisra'el), is a major electronic toll highway in Israel.[1] Highway 6 is the first Israeli Build-Operate-Transfer road constructed, carried out mainly by the private sector in return for a concession to collect tolls on the highway for a given number of years. It is also one of the largest infrastructure projects undertaken in Israel.
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| כביש 6 | ||||
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 Highway near Horshim Interchange | ||||
| Route information | ||||
| Length | 204 km (127 mi) | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| South end | Shoket Interchange | |||
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| North end | Somekh Interchange | |||
| Location | ||||
| Country | Israel | |||
| Major cities | Beersheba, Kiryat Gat, Ramla, Petah Tikva, Rosh HaAyin, Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Hadera, Yokneam Illit, Shefa-Amr | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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History
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The highway is officially dedicated the Yitzhak Rabin Highway (Hebrew: כביש יצחק רבין, Kvish Yitzḥak Rabin), though this name is not commonly used. It began operating in 2002 and continues to be lengthened as construction proceeds on newer sections. The southern terminus is at Shoket Interchange, opened in November 2016.[2] The northern terminus is the Tel Kashish Interchange, opened on November 14, 2018, where the highway now merges into Highway 70 heading northwest. Another northern extension to Somech Interchange opened in 2019.[3]
Goals
editThe highway aims to provide an efficient north–south transportation corridor in Israel while allowing drivers to bypass the traffic-congested Tel Aviv region in the country's center. Thus, it is the easternmost major highway in Israel, in some places located almost right on the Green Line. Currently, it is 204 km long, all of which is a controlled-access highway. This figure will grow in the next few years as additional segments are extended northward and southward from the existing section of the road. As of 2013[update], some parts were under construction while others were undergoing statutory approvals and permitting processes.
Characteristics and pricing
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Highway 6 uses a system of cameras and transponders to toll vehicles automatically. The lack of toll booths allows it to operate as a normal freeway with interchanges. A radio antenna detects when a vehicle with a transponder has entered and exited the highway, calculating the toll rate. An automatic license plate recognition system is used for vehicles without a transponder. Monthly statements are mailed to users. Highway 6 is based on the technology of the Highway 407 in Ontario, Canada developed by Raytheon.
The pricing scheme is based on the number of segments a driver passes in a trip. Each segment is the road span between two interchanges. As of April 2018[update], the pricing for up to 3 segments was 19.78 NIS, 23.83 NIS for four segments, and 27.88 NIS for five or more segments. An additional fee is paid when driving through the "northern" segment, the cost of which is an additional 5.74 NIS. Pricing for motorcycles and heavy vehicles such as trucks is different.[4]
The price above is discounted for drivers who register with Highway 6's operator and install the in-vehicle transponder unit (called a "Passkal," lit. "easy-pass") to record their highway usage. When a vehicle does not have a transponder, its license plate is scanned, and the vehicle is identified. Drivers who pre-register their license plate with the operator and establish a direct billing relationship also receive a discounted rate (though they pay more than those who have installed a "Passkal"). The bill is sent to the vehicle's owner if the license plate is not in Highway 6's database, according to the car registration with the Israeli Ministry of Transportation. Such a vehicle pays the highest rate.[citation needed]
The licensed road operator, Derech Eretz, operates a fleet of service vehicles that patrol the entire highway and assist drivers in need. Since it is technically a private road, the road operator must pay the Israel police for traffic enforcement.
The tolled sections north of Yokneam are operated by a separate franchisee called "6 – Northern Crossing." Registration and billing for these sections are handled separately by them, and tolling is performed using automatic license plate recognition only (no tolling by transponder).
Free segments
editAll the existing (and planned) segments of Highway 6 south of the Soreq interchange are free of charge in both directions, as is the segment between Ben Shemen and Daniyyel interchanges, where Highway 6 runs concurrently with Highway 1. The northern section between Highway 77 and Highway 75 in the western Jezreel Valley is also free (in part of the section where Highway 6 runs concurrently with Highway 70).
Financial statistics
editIn March 2006, Derech Eretz reported a profit of 89 million NIS for 2005, an increase of 56% from 2004, on income of 779 million NIS, an increase of 137% from 2004.
At the end of 2005:
- about 500,000 registered subscribers (one subscriber can own multiple vehicles),
- 1.36 million individual users (an increase from 1.1 million users),
- 21 million trips,
- 80% of trips are by subscribers,
- Bill collection success rate was 97%.
Interchanges
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The highway's count starts at 30km since it includes the planned southern extensions.
| District[5] | Location[6] | km | mi | Name | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern | Camp Ariel Sharon | 0 | 0.0 | צומת הנגב (HaNegev Junction) | Named after the Negev Desert | |
| Nevatim | 19 | 12 | מחלף נבטים (Nevatim Interchange) |  Highway 25 | ||
| Tel Shoket | 30 | 19 | מחלף שוקת (Shoket Interchange) | |||
| Lehavim | 40 | 25 | מחלף להבים (Lehavim Interchange) |  Route 310 | ||
| Rahat | 43.5 | 27.0 | מחלף רהט (Rahat Interchange) |  Highway 40 | Southern end of concurrency with Highway 40 | |
| Dvir | 46 | 29 | מחלף דבירה (Devira Interchange) |  Route 325 | ||
| Beit Kama | 55.5 | 34.5 | מחלף קמה (Kama Interchange) |  Route 293 | ||
| 66 | 41 | מחלף מאחז (Ma'ahaz Interchange) | Highway 40 (southbound) | Northern end of concurrency with Highway 40 | ||
| Kiryat Gat | 76 | 47 | מחלף קרית גת (Kiryat Gat Interchange) |  Highway 35 | ||
| Central | Yad Binyamin | 100 | 62 | מחלף שורק (Sorek Interchange) | Named after nearby Brook of Sorek | |
| Hulda | 106 | 66 | מחלף חולדה (Hulda Interchange) |  Route 411 | ||
| Na'an | 111 | 69 | Petrol and rest area | Both Directions | ||
| Ramla | 114 | 71 | מחלף נשרים (Nesharim Interchange) | Named after nearby Nesher Cement Factory | ||
| Kfar Daniel | 118 | 73 | מחלף דניאל (Daniel Interchange) |
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| Ben Shemen | 122 | 76 | מחלף בן שמן (Ben Shemen Interchange) | |||
| Tel Hadid | 123 | 76 | Tunnels (4 lanes, 450 metres) | |||
| 123 | 76 | Bridge (2 lanes, 300 metres) | ||||
| Beit Nehemiah | 124 | 77 | Bridge (2 lanes, 170 metres) | |||
| Giv'at Ko'ah | 133 | 83 | מחלף גבעת כ"ח (Giv'at Ko'ah Interchange) | |||
| Nahshonim | 137 | 85 | מחלף נחשונים (Nahshonim Interchange) |   Route 471 | ||
| Rosh HaAyin | 142 | 88 | מחלף קסם (Kessem Interchange) | Named after nearby Kafr Qasim | ||
| Horshim | 145 | 90 | מחלף חורשים (Horshim Interchange) |
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| Eyal | 153 | 95 | מחלף אייל (Eyal Interchange) |  Route 551 | ||
| Nitzanei Oz | 166 | 103 | מחלף ניצני עוז (Nitzanei Oz Interchange) |  Highway 57(westbound) | ||
| Haifa | Lehavot Haviva | 174 | 108 | Petrol and rest area | Both Directions | |
| Baqa al-Gharbiyye | 177 | 110 | מחלף באקה (Baqa Interchange) |  Highway 9 | ||
| Barkai | 186 | 116 | מחלף עירון (Iron Interchange) |  Highway 65 | Named after nearby Iron Stream | |
| Giv'at Nili | 194.5 | 120.9 | Tunnels (2 lanes, 350 metres) | |||
| Northern | Ramot Menashe | 200 | 120 | מחלף עין תות (Ein Tut Interchange) |  Highway 67 | Named after nearby Nahal Tut |
| Elyakim | 202.5 | 125.8 | מחלף אליקים (Elaykim Interchange) |  Route 672 | ||
| Yokneam Illit | 206 | 128 | מחלף יקנעם (Yokne'am Interchange) |  Route 722 | ||
| 206.5 | 128.3 | Tunnels (4 lanes, 1,750 metres) | ||||
| Haifa | Kiryat Tiv'on | 209 | 130 | מחלף תל קשיש (Tel Qashish Interchange) | ||
| Sha'ar HaAmakim | 216.5 | 134.5 | מחלף שער העמקים (Sha'ar HaAmakim Interchange) |  Highway 75 | ||
| Rekhasim | 219.5 | 136.4 | Tunnels (4 lanes, 2,000 metres) | |||
| Northern | Ibtin | 220.5 | 137.0 | Tunnels (4 lanes, 400 metres) | ||
| Haifa | Khawaled | 222 | 138 | מחלף גבעות אלונים (Givot Alonim Interchange) |  Highway 70(westbound) | |
| Kiryat Ata | 227 | 141 | מחלף סומך (Somech Interchange) |
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| Northern | Shfar'am | 228 | 142 | מחלף אבליים (Avlayim Interchange) | ||
| Kafr Yasif Ahihud | 240 | 150 | מחלף יאסיף-אחיהוד (Yasif-Ahihud Interchange) | |||
| Kabri | 252 | 157 | מחלף כברי (Yasif-Ahihud Interchange) |  Highway 89 | ||
| Shlomi | 260 | 160 | מחלף שלומי (Shlomi Interchange) |  Route 899 | ||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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References
edit- ^ Inbal Orpaz (August 25, 2011). "No such thing as a highway to nowhere". Haaretz.
- ^ "Highway 6 Extension - New free section opens this week". Globes. November 30, 2016.
- ^ "Highway 6 northern section opens tomorrow". Ynet. November 13, 2018.
- ^ "כביש 6 - תעריפי הנסיעה".
- ^ Survey of Israel (October 31, 2018). "מחוזות משרד הפנים" [Ministry of Interior districts] (Map). Govmap (in Hebrew). Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Survey of Israel (October 31, 2018). "גבולות ישובים" [Locality borders] (Map). Govmap (in Hebrew). Retrieved October 31, 2018.
External links
edit- Official website of "Derech Eretz Highways Management Corporation Ltd" (road operator) (in Hebrew)
- Official website of "Trans-Israel Highway Corporation Ltd" (planning and construction) Archived 2012-10-29 at the Wayback Machine (in Hebrew)
- Driving on Highway 6 Video journey on YouTube
- Official website of 6 Northern Crossing (in Hebrew)