Toll Roads in Israel: Options, Data, Prices
In Israel, there are 3 types of toll roads: "Route Number 6," "Carmel Tunnel," and a special lane at the entrance to Tel Aviv. Let us examine each in detail:
Highway 6 - "Kvish Shesh"
The first toll road in Israel is Highway 6 - "Kvish Shesh," also known as the Israeli Trans-Highway or Yitzhak Rabin Highway. The road, which was opened in 2004, will be operated by the franchising company Derech Eretz until 2029 and subsequently transferred to state ownership. The highway includes 14 intersections and exits in both directions. List of intersections from south to north:
Meahez;
Ain-Tut;
Kiryat Gat;
Shorek;
Negorim;
Daniel;
Ben Shemen;
Nahshonim;
Kasem;
Horashim;
Eyal;
Nitzani-Oz;
Baak Jad;
Eron;
Ain-Tut.
In the coming years, Highway 6 is expected to undergo significant expansion – about 124 kilometers (approximately 62 kilometers in each direction) – from the Shlomi intersection in the north to the Negev intersection.
The transition from one intersection to the next is a separate section, and each requires an additional fee. Currently, Highway 6 only has two maintenance stations – one in each direction. These stations include a gas station and a café.
How to Pay for Traveling on Route 6?
Highway 6 allows free entry, and vehicles are automatically identified by photographing the license plate or by wireless installation on the windshield. The bill is sent to the vehicle owner's address (in this case, to Europcar). If you drive a rental vehicle on this route, your credit card, which you have deposited as a deposit with Europcar, will be charged after some time.
The travel price on Highway 6 consists of the following parameters: vehicle type, customer type, and the number of sections crossed. You can easily calculate the costs by visiting the official website of Kvish Shesh in Russian.
Carmel Tunnel
The Carmel Tunnel is only six kilometers beneath the mountain. However, this route saves a lot of time for those who wish to cross Haifa and drive from the southwest to the northeast of Israel. The Carmel Tunnels have three entrance and exit sections: the Haifa South intersection, the Krayot intersection, Neve Shahanan, which is located next to the Grand Canyon Shopping Center.
You can pay at the toll booth at the entrance. Public transportation or trucks are charged between 6 and 30 ILS for a tunnel segment (depending on vehicle type) and between 12 and 60 ILS (depending on vehicle type) for the entire section.
Tel Aviv Expressway
The expressway is a section of the highway that gives priority to public transportation and vehicles with three or four passengers when approaching Tel Aviv. The expressway extends over 13 km and runs east to west parallel to Tel Aviv – from Ben Gurion Airport to the Galuiot Bridge on Ayalon. Here, the prices vary and can be somewhat confusing, as the fee is charged based on priority: the more congested the section is, the higher the fee. Prices range from 7 ILS to 75 ILS and can be changed at any time of the day. It is important to note that the subscriber must be registered in the system to use the expressway – even if the vehicle is exempt from payment (three or four passengers or public transportation).
Using toll roads and tunnels in Israel saves a lot of travel time. This is especially true during peak hours, which have become noticeable throughout the day in Israel in recent years. Generally, the toll road offers more lanes than the standard road, it is built modernly, ensuring a smooth drive free from road obstacles or accidents, and allows you to drive much faster than on the normal road.