The successful completion of this project was a testament to the power of meticulous planning, effective collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to overcoming challenges. It stands as a prime example of how engineering expertise can be instrumental in bridging divides and fostering progress, even in the most challenging environments.
Client
Roichman company
Services
Executive engineer
Date
1992-1994
Budget
12M ($)
Highway 57 is an east-west highway through central Israel and the West Bank. In the past, it was an uninterrupted road from Netanya, a city on the Mediterranean coast in the west, to Damia Bridge across the Jordan River in the east. The road existed at full length from the time of the British Mandate, and parts of it are even older. Today, the road is separated into three unconnected parts: the first from Netanya to Nitzanei Oz interchange at Highway 6, the second from there to an Israel Defense Forces checkpoint in Beka'ot in the northeastern West Bank, and the third from there until Damia Bridge. The middle portion of the road between Nitzanei Oz and Beka'ot passes through Tulkarm and Nazareth.
From the Beka'ot checkpoint, which stands at the junction of the northern section of the Allon Road (Route 578), the road continues along the path of Nahal Tirtza in a southeast direction. The road follows the ancient "Sunset Road" between the Way of the Patriarchs and the King's Highway. This area is under Israeli control, and the road is jointly open to Israeli and Palestinian traffic. For a 2 km stretch, the road overlaps with the Allon Road and then separates from it at Hamra junction, where the central Allon Road (Route 508) begins. Highway 57 continues until the Damia Bridge over the Jordan River, which functions as a border crossing for commerce between Israel and Jordan.
Building trust with local communities, both Israeli and Palestinian, was equally crucial. This involved extensive community engagement, addressing concerns, and demonstrating our commitment to the project's benefits.
