Transportation Minister Meir Shetrit and the Director of the Public Works Company today presented Prime Minister Sharon with a detailed working plan on Israel’s inter-city highways for the next five years.  The plan - worth approximately NIS 19 billion - provides for advancing, planning, developing and maintaining highways.  To this end, 74 new and existing projects will be moved forward; they are expected to upgrade the overall national inter-city highway network within five-to-seven years.

The goals of the plan are to reduce traffic accidents by implementing the Sheinan Committee and recommendations, upgrading highway maintenance to the levels and standards prevalent in other Western countries and via various technological advances in the field of traffic control.

Prime Minister Sharon instructed the various relevant bodies to emphasize the following issues in implementing the plan: 1) Focusing on the development of the Negev and the Galilee and road access to them; 2) Preserving the environment; and 3) Designated projects for minority sectors.

 Prime Minister Sharon reiterated his instructions that future construction of Highway #20 be rerouted away from Hasharon Park.  The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of Highway #358, which links Shekef and Shomriya in the eastern Lachish area, to the development of this area in light of the expected influx of new residents following the implementation of the Disengagement Plan.

Transportation Minister Shetrit commended the plan.  Finance Ministry Budget Director Kobi Haber discussed the plan’s relevance to alleviating congestion on the country’s existing highways and the decisive influence that investments in transportation infrastructure have on long-range economic growth.

Prime Minister Sharon instructed the various relevant bodies to finish preparatory work forthwith and to present a finalized plan to the Cabinet in the coming weeks.