The state budget will include a massive sum for the widening of Route 60 and for other roads throughout Judea and Samaria.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism) has approved the plans presented to him by Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz, and the roads throughout the region will be budgeted for planning and construction.
The transportation section of the state budget was signed Friday and brings wonderful news for residents of Judea and Samaria, and particularly of the Binyamin Region.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Transportation Minister Miri Regev (Likud), in consultation with Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz, formulated a significant allocation of funds for the development of roads in the region. The investment in the roads infrastructure in Judea and Samaria will be greater than ever before, and is based on plans prepared over the past few years.
The most expensive and most significant project is the widening of Route 60, from the exit from Jerusalem at the edge of the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood, past Hizme, Sha'ar Binyamin, Ofra, Eli and as far as the Rehelim intersection. The road will be expanded to three lanes in each direction, with one lane in each direction designated for public transportation.
The budget allocates over a billion shekels for the first stage of the work – from Hizme to the former British police station in Wadi Haramiya, and the preparation of plans for the northern section of the road. Following the completion of the plans, the construction of the road will be funded from the five-year budget for roads in Judea and Samaria.
This is expected to greatly improve the quality of life for the residents of Binyamin and everyone else who uses this main artery to the Jewish towns in Samaria.
In addition, NIS 300 million will be budgeted for the construction of the extension of Route 45, from the Kochav Ya'akov gas station to Atarot (via the Qalandia lowered road). This section of the road will shorten the travel time from eastern Binyamin toward Route 443. The road is currently in the final planning stages and its construction can begin in the near future.
Other planned roads in Binyamin are Route 465, from the British police station intersection to Ofarim Junction, and the widening of Route 446.
The budget also includes the detailed planning of a road that will connect the Talmonim bloc of communities to Route 443.
The Finance Minister and Binyamin head concluded that roads whose planning has been completed will be budgeted for construction.
Praising the decision, Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz said, "I would like to thank the friends of the Judea and Samaria towns, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Without their involvement and in-depth knowledge of the details and the significance of the road plans, this achievement would not have been reached."
"This is a historic moment. The State of Israel is taking responsibility for Judea and Samaria and this is being expressed in an investment that has not been witnessed since the start of the founding of the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria.
"I would like to thank the ministers and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. There is still much work ahead of us. Through our joint efforts, we will continue the strategic development of the Jewish towns in Judea and Samaria."